Salinas police: Man found hiding in cactus after robbing business, stealing car

Salinas police officers arrested a 22-year-old man after they say he robbed a business on Acosta Plaza Monday night.

Officers were dispatched to Sanborn Road and Acosta Plaza around 9:30 p.m. for a report of an armed robbery in progress. The suspect, identified as Jose Ramirez, apparently entered the business armed with a brick and demanded money. He then took an undisclosed amount of cash and fled from the business on foot. He stole a Dodge Neon from a nearby parking lot and then took off northbound on Sanborn Road. The victim of the robbery and the victim of the stolen car followed Ramirez and eventually flagged down an officer on Williams Road.

Ramirez got out of the car at Garner Avenue and Williams Road and ran into a residential area. Ramirez exited the stolen car at Garner Ave and Williams Rd. and ran into the residential area. A perimeter was set and two police K-9s were deployed to assist with the yard-to-yard search.

A police dog found Ramirez hiding in a cactus in one of the yards, and he surrendered. The car and money were returned to their owners.

Ramirez was booked into Monterey County Jail on suspicion of armed robbery, vehicle theft and evading police.