Update: Salinas councilman says “I made a serious mistake”

The Salinas Police Department has released information that it is investigating councilman Tony Barrera for some sort of neighbor dispute.

Police say the dispute happened late Sunday afternoon when the neighbor called police and identified Barrera as the other person involved in the alleged “dispute” at his home.

News Channel 5 contacted Barrera and spoke with him and the neighbor about the incident.

Barrera told News Channel 5, “I don’t know what will happen, but I’ll be ready for the consequences whatever it is.”

“I made a serious mistake, I did get upset as well. But I don’t lie to the public that I serve. I stand before them and they will judge this public servant as they will,” says Barrera.

He went on to tell News Channel 5 his recollection of what happened, “I was on my own fence, I did get loud, the neighbor got loud, the neighbor got a little bit belligerent. I didn’t believe I committed a crime. I did something that I believe I should of let the police take care of.”

Barrera says he’s called the police on this neighbor before for loud music.

Barrera’s neighbor says she and her family felt intimidated by the councilman after he was standing over the fence and yelling at them while he had some sort of stick in his hand, according to her.

They acknowledge they were playing music because they were celebrating her daughter’s 6 th birthday, but says the music was not loud.

She says Barrera always complains about any little noise. She would eventually like to sort things out with him but says it’s still too soon.

Salinas Police say because the incident is still under investigation, investigators will not be revealing any more details of the case.

This comes on the heels of an investigation into Councilman Jose Castaneda who investigators say was involved in an altercation at his home. Castaneda as well as the man at the home both said they were victims of assault, but Castaneda said the man was trespassing. Police sent the case to the DA’s Office which then sent back the case with more questions for investigators.

Shortly after, Castaneda was pulled over by Salinas Police and cited for driving on a suspended license. Castaneda claims the license has been re-instated.