Three arrested in connection to Salinas shooting, police chase

UPDATE 11/13/2019 5:45 p.m. Salinas police arrested three men suspected of being involved in a shooting on Yreka Drive Tuesday night.

Police arrested 21-year-old Rafael Arteaga, 19-year-old Carlos Chavez and 25-year-old Jaime Pena in connection to the shooting and chase that followed.

Officers responded to the 600 block of Yreka Drive after receiving a report of a victim of a shooting. When they got there, they found a 40-year-old man who had been shot. He was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive.

Police said the suspects left in a Dodge Charger and a witness gave them a partial license plate. It was seen in north Salinas and a chase started.

The chase went through north and south Salinas at more than 90 miles per hour, according to police. They said the suspects lost control while turning from Blanco onto San Juan Drive and hit a parked car.

The owner of that parked car, Miguel Porras, tells KION his pickup truck and garaged are totaled.

The incident is affecting Porras in more ways now.

“You know for the moment, I’ve cancelled my appointments. And I don’t have any transportation right now,” said Porras.

Arteaga was caught near the car, and police said he was wearing body armor. They also said they found an AR-15 rifle with a 30 round magazine, a Glock 9mm handgun with an extended magazine and a large amount of marijuana in the car.

“It doesn’t happen every often that someone would be wearing body armor. But as to why, I don’t know,” said Miguel Cabrera, a spokesperson for the Salinas Police Department.

Chavez was arrested on La Mesa Drive, and Pena was tased and arrested. Police said Pena had a loaded handgun.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Derek Gibson at 831-758-7442 or derekg@ci.salinas.ca.us.

UPDATE 11/13/19 3:00 a.m. At least three people have been arrested, suspected of being involved in a shooting in Salinas that led to a police chase across the city. The shooting happened Tuesday night on Yreka drive.

Salinas Police say officers found a car that matched a description given by witnesses and chased it through the city where they eventually stopped them on La Mesa Drive.

The three people inside that car were arrested. A 40 year-old man was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

There were reports that the site of the shooting might have been a home invasion but police could not confirm that.

PREVIOUS STORY: Salinas Police are investigating a shooting that sent one person to the hospital.

It happened Yreka Drive Tuesday night.

Police said this is not connected to a stolen car chase that ended on Abbott Street.

This is a developing story.