CHP makes arrest in Prunedale projectile investigation
SALINAS, Calif. (KION)
UPDATE 1/23/2020 1:30 p.m. An arrest has been made in connection to the projectile incidents in the Prunedale area, according to the CHP.
At a press conference Thursday, officials announced the arrest of 52-year-old Charles Lafferty. He was booked into the Monterey County Jail Wednesday. He is accused of hitting vehicles with glass marbles using a slingshot in at least 69 reported incidents. They have mainly been centered around SR 156 and Highway 101 in the Prunedale area, as well as SR 156 in San Benito County.
Investigators said Lafferty was likely driving by striking random vehicles on the opposite of the road.
Following the last projectile attack on Jan. 5 investigators keyed in on their suspect.
“Shortly after this investigators were able to identify the suspect vehicle as a GMC Sonoma pickup truck,” CHP coastal division chief LD Maples said.
The CHP said five people have been injured by broken glass, but the injuries were minor.
The CHP led the investigation into the attacks, but the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office also assigned a detective to assist with the investigation, and the agencies offered a $15,000 reward for information.
The CHP said the investigation first linked a GMC Sonoma pickup to the attacks, and Wednesday they served search warrants in Monterey County and San Luis Obispo that led to Lafferty's arrest. The arrest was in San Luis Obispo County.
Lafferty is facing charges that include one count of possession of a silencer, ten counts of throwing a substance at a vehicle and ten counts of assault with a deadly weapon that is not a firearm. His bail is set at $250,000.
According to the state of California’s legislative information website, possession of a silencer, PC 33410, is punishable by imprisonment and/or a fine that cannot be above $10,000.
Throwing a substance at a vehicle is PC 23110(B), which means that person maliciously and willfully threw or projected a rock, brick, bottle, metal or other missile with intent to do great bodily injury at a vehicle or person in a vehicle. If convicted, that charge is punishable by imprisonment at a state prison.
Lafferty is also charged with PF 245(A)(1), or assault with a deadly weapon that is not a firearm. If convicted, he could face imprisonment in a state prison for between two and four years, a county jail for less than a year or a fine that does not go above $10,000. If convicted, he could also be both fined and imprisoned.
“This is what we can initially charge him with as we process and analyze and develop our evidence we have acquired we are confident we’ll be able to recommend additional counts linking him to the victims,” CHP Capt. Kyle Foster said.
Investigators believe he is the only person involved.
PREVIOUS STORY: Officials are expected to make a major announcement regarding the investigation into projectiles hitting cars across the Central Coast.
Since February 2019, the California Highway Patrol Monterey Area office has investigated 69 reported incidents of projectiles striking vehicles traveling upon SR-156 and US-101 in the Prunedale area, as well as on SR-156 in San Benito County.
In all, five people have suffered minor injuries from broken glass. Officials say as result of the task force’s "exhaustive efforts," the CHP has made a major breakthrough in their investigation.
There is currently a person booked into the Monterey County Jail charged with possession of a silencer, throwing an object or substance at a vehicle and assault with a deadly weapon that is not a firearm. Law enforcement agencies are not able to confirm that the person is connected to the projectile investigation. The Monterey County Sheriff's Office and the CHP said more information will be released at this afternoon's press conference.
KION will have a live stream of that press conference at 1:30 this afternoon and continue to follow the developing story.
