Salinas police investigate 40th homicide of the year

Salinas Police investigate the cities 40th homicide of the year.

It happened Christmas morning on the 1100 block of Kimmel Street in East Salinas.

Salinas resident Ron Bustos said he called police in the morning to report a crime in progress. “I heard a noise and what I did I looked outside the window and I seen a person trying to start the Honda on fire so when I came out I noticed that he ended up taking off in my car,” Bustos said.

When Salinas Police arrived on scene they checked out a suspicious vehicle parked in the area.

“While the officer was on scene he was alerted and walked over to the vehicle and located what appeared to be a deceased body,” said Commander David Crabill from the Salinas Police Department.

According to investigators the 49-year old man had signs of traumatic injury and believed the victim was transported to the location after his death.

Bustos said his Christmas morning experience was a shock. “It’s terrible you know, when you should be out with your family and friends and stuff, instead of finding someone dead in front of your house it’s kind of terrible especially on this day.”

Commander Crabill tells News Channel 5 that even though first responders work 24/7 365 days a year, it’s still tough responding to a homicide case on Christmas.

“It impacts us as much just as much as it does the community when certainly we have to investigate a violent crime but that is our job and our responsibility,” Crabill said. “We are on scene we did have to call in the detectives who are on call who were home with their families but did respond and are currently actively investigating this case.”

Salinas police said they’re withholding the identity of the victim until next of kin can be notified.