Salinas police use PIT maneuver to end chase

A high speed police chase down East Alisal Street in Salinas ended in dramatic fashion over the weekend on Sunday night.

The chase started after owners of a stolen car spotted it and called 911. Police had to use the PIT maneuver, where a patrol car comes from behind and knocks the back wheels of the pursued car off the road, to stop the driver.

One local business manager said there was another chase in the area just a few days ago.

“Couple of patrol cars were in hot pursuit of a young man going 75 miles per hour on East Alisal, heading east on East Alisal, it was just outrageous. It was scary,” said Jose Mancera, who manages Mercadito Alegria on East Alisal.

Mancera said speeding is a big problem on the street.

“It’s outrageously dangerous, it really is. I don’t know what these people are on,” he said. “It’s not Laguna Seca, it’s not a race track, you know.”

He feels city leaders are not doing enough to make things safer on this street.

“A lot of people walk the street of East Alisal, a lot of families walk their kids to school, so it’s incredibly dangerous for them if you can just imagine,” said Mancera.

Fortunately in the Sunday night chase, the car spun out on the street and did not hit any people or businesses.

Mancera said he wants shop owners to make their voices heard, and people who grew up in East Salinas said the crime in the area is an unfortunate part of normal.

“People know us for the crime and for the gangs and for all the things that… we’re the salad bowl capital of the world and no one even takes that into consideration because of everything else that overshadows it, so it’s kind of sad,” said Destynee Gray, who grew up on the east side.

The 31-year-old suspect in that police chase was arrested. Police also found a loaded rifle inside the car.