Crime Reports

GREENFIELD — Greenfield resident Ilda Sanchez, 53, was sentenced Oct. 30 for committing welfare fraud, according to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office. Sanchez was placed on a two-year felony probation and was ordered to serve 180 days in county jail as part of the...

SOLEDAD — A 59-year-old Soledad man was arrested Wednesday morning after allegedly robbing a Mechanics Bank branch and attempting to flee north on Highway 101, according to Soledad Police Department. In a news release, Soledad Police said officers were dispatched around 9:22 a.m. after a...

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has been awarded a $75,000 grant from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to reduce alcohol-related harm in the community. “This initiative is essential to improving youth safety and giving law enforcement the tools needed to...

SOLEDAD — California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials are investigating the Oct. 14 death of an incarcerated person at Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) in Soledad as a homicide. At about 5:15 p.m., staff observed Orlando Ochoa assaulting Israel Mendoza and responded by utilizing chemical...

SOLEDAD — Soledad Police Chief Patrick Valenzuela recently announced that Lt. Juan Santiago has successfully graduated from the 295th session of the FBI National Academy. The graduation ceremony was held at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va., on Sept. 4. Santiago is only the...

GREENFIELD — Several community members in Greenfield had their catalytic converters stolen overnight on Oct. 14, according to Greenfield Police Department. Similar thefts were also reported in other South Monterey County cities, including Soledad and King City. A catalytic converter is part of a vehicle’s exhaust...

MONTEREY COUNTY — In light of recent reports of pets being abandoned during challenging times, both Hitchcock Road Animal Services and SPCA Monterey County are joining messages to remind all pet owners that dumping or abandoning animals is both illegal and inhumane. California law explicitly...

GREENFIELD — While on patrol in a school zone Friday morning, a Greenfield police officer observed a vehicle driving recklessly. When the officer attempted a traffic stop, the driver failed to yield. The vehicle eventually came to a stop after a short pursuit, at Highway...

SOLEDAD — On Sept. 18, a Monterey County jury found David Fernando Hernandez, 34, of Soledad, guilty of felony resisting an officer with force or violence, misdemeanor driving under the influence of a drug, misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanor possession of drug...

GREENFIELD — Greenfield resident Julio Martinez, 43, was sentenced Aug. 28 to 18 years in prison for committing two counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14 years of age and two counts of assault with intent to commit a lewd act upon...