Salinas Officers honored for stopping hostage situation with meat cleaver at police department

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV)- Two Salinas Police Officers are getting their flowers after stopping a hostage situation that occurred back in 2019 at the Salinas Police station.

Back in September 2019, a 43-year-old woman was finishing up personal business at the police department front counter and was confronted while walking out by Mariel Capulong, 22.

Salinas Police said Capulong was suffering from mental illness and was experiencing a psychotic episode when she took the other woman hostage with an 8-inch meat cleaver.

"Once in the lobby, Capulong forced the victim to sit down in a lobby chair and stood over her with the meat cleaver raised in a threatening manner. The victim, understandably, was terrified for her life," said police.

A CSO working the front counter called for help over the department intercom alerting nearby officers to the hostage situation. That's when Sergeant Angel Gonzalez, Officer Steve Hoyte, and other officers ran to the lobby access door.

Sergeant Gonzalez quickly devised an ad hoc plan with the officers and breached the doors to the lobby. The suspect was immediately confronted at gunpoint as Capulong held the meat cleaver over her victim's head, said police.

Sergeant Gonzalez directed Officer Hoyte to use a taser and move to de-escalation tactics. Officer Hoyte advanced on Capulong with his taser and struck her as she raised the cleaver.

She was incapacitated after the taser was used and the hostage situation ended with Capulong's arrest, said police.

This prevented a loss of life and even injury. All within a minute and 15 seconds.

The actions of Sergeant Angel Gonzalez and Officer Steve Hoyte are reflective of the highest standards of the Salinas Police Department and the policing profession. Their actions on September 25, 2019, are to be commended, and are deserving of the Monterey County Peace Officer Association Distinguished Service Award.

Salinas Police

Police: Suspect in custody after taking woman hostage with cleaver at Salinas Police Department

A new video released by Salinas Police show the entire encounter of a woman with a cleaver holding another woman hostage in the lobby of the police department Wednesday.

The suspect, 22-year-old Mariel Capulong, grabbed the 43-year-old victim as she walked out of the lobby and held her hostage with a large meat cleaver.

The incident was right around the time of a shift change, which meant lots of officers were in the building. After just seconds, officers moved forward and deescalated the situation by hitting Capulong with a taser.

Tonight at 5 and 6 p.m. on KION, officers break down the unique hostage situation and how they ended the confrontation quickly.

UPDATE 9/25/2019 5:30 p.m. Salinas police say a woman with a cleaver held another woman hostage in the lobby of the police department.

The incident happened Wednesday afternoon. Civilian employees and officers were able to subdue the suspect, 22-year-old Mariel Capulong, and get the victim free.

The victim was not injured, but the suspect received minor injuries. She was arrested.

PREVIOUS STORY: Salinas police said there was an apparent hostage situation at the department Wednesday afternoon.

A detective tells KION a person went into the Police Department and held another woman hostage. There may have been a knife involved, and we hear the suspect may have been tased.

Assistant Chief Manny Martinez said a woman is in custody and more information will be released soon. The victim is not a department employee.

KION has a reporter at the scene learning more.