Crime Reports

SOLEDAD — After a five-day trial, on Oct. 4, a jury found Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) inmates Jorge Farias, 37, and Michael Bloom, 43, guilty of first-degree attempted murder on an inmate. Farias was found to have suffered two prior strike convictions under California’s...

SALINAS — Monterey County District Attorney’s Office announced Oct. 18 that Karen Rodriguez, 38, and Elizabeth Vargas, 34, both current residents of Arizona, have been charged with embezzling more than $3 million from Taylor Farms. Rodriguez and Vargas were employed in the Human Resources department...

GREENFIELD — Greenfield Police Department has arrested two individuals following a three-month investigation into fraudulent check cashing. Between Aug. 4 and Sept. 25, King City residents Olivia Pineda Carrazco and Juan Alberto Diaz cashed four fraudulent checks at various businesses in Greenfield. “Our investigation revealed that...

CENTRAL COAST — Utility scams have continued at an alarming rate during 2024, with nearly 15,000 Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) customers reporting more than $334,000 in losses to scammers. The average scam victim lost over $600, and more than 500 customers have reported falling...

GREENFIELD — Greenfield resident Paulo Cesar Alcaraz Ortiz, 27, has been sentenced to 30 years and eight months-to-life in prison after being convicted of first-degree murder for intentionally running over Guadalupe Garcia. On Nov. 16, 2021, Ortiz was in a car stolen from a friend’s...

SOLEDAD — California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials are investigating the Sept. 30 death of an inmate at Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) in Soledad as a homicide. At 10:45 a.m., officers were conducting security rounds and approached a cell occupied by Colin Hebert and Jessie...

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agency made a surprise visit to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office last week, recognizing local deputies for their pivotal role in managing a mass casualty incident on March 3 in King City. The tragic shooting occurred...

SOLEDAD — Soledad Police Department will conduct a driving under the influence (DUI) checkpoint on Friday, Sept. 20, from 6 to 11 p.m. at an undisclosed location within the city of Soledad. DUI checkpoint locations are determined based on data showing incidents of impaired driving-related...

SOLEDAD — Detectives from Soledad Police Department have arrested 34-year-old Main Street Middle School teacher Marina Ramirez Rico for having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old male former student. During an investigation on a different case, a video was located “showing the two engaged in...

CENTRAL COAST — In downtown Salinas on Aug. 19 — joined by several dozen Central Coast elected officials, law enforcement leaders, business owners and local and state lawmakers — Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas championed historic new retail theft laws that will protect business owners,...