Crime Reports

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,...

MONTEREY COUNTY — In recent weeks, there has been a surge in fraudulent job postings targeting job seekers, announced Monterey County District Attorney’s Office. These deceptive postings lead unsuspecting individuals to fake websites asking them to provide sensitive personal information, including direct deposit details. They...

MONTEREY COUNTY — Over the past two weeks, multiple agricultural businesses in Monterey County have been targeted by a wave of burglaries, resulting in the theft of valuable equipment. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Ag Crimes Unit has been actively investigating these incidents, leading to...

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County District Attorney’s Office is warning residents of scammers impersonating law enforcement. “Fraudsters may try to trick unsuspecting victims into providing their personal information or sending money by pretending to be law enforcement agents or representatives of other government agencies,” according...

SOLEDAD — California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials are investigating an attempted homicide at Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) after a use-of-force incident. On July 12, at 9:37 a.m., SVSP staff in a recreation yard observed two inmates striking another inmate with manufactured...

GREENFIELD — A Monterey County Jury has found Paulo Cesar Alcaraz Ortiz, 27, of Greenfield, guilty of first-degree murder for intentionally running over Guadalupe Garcia. Judge Andrew Liu will sentence Ortiz, who is facing more than 25 years to life in prison, on Sept. 4. On...

GREENFIELD — South Monterey County faced an unexpected challenge in the heart of a warm summer afternoon Tuesday. Around 2 p.m. on July 23, the usually tranquil fields near Greenfield were suddenly ablaze as a fire broke out on Metz Road. Fueled by strong winds,...

SOLEDAD — SPCA Monterey County is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who shot a cat in Soledad. On July 4, a Good Samaritan found the young brown tabby cat on Crestfield Street, near Soledad High...

SOLEDAD — An armed robbery at the Soledad Valley Liquors store on Front Street on Wednesday night led to the apprehension of three suspects, including two minors. On July 10, Soledad officers were dispatched to the liquor store following a report of an armed robbery...