Man faces seven years for police chase through downtown Salinas
SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV)- Update April 20, 2023, at 11:06 a.m.- The Monterey County District Attorney's Office said a man has been convicted after a chase with Salinas Police went through downtown and ended in a foot chase through Chinatown in Sept of 2022.
Antonio Laguna was convicted of reckless evading and possession of a stolen vehicle after he led Salinas Police on a high-speed chase around 7:30 a.m., according to the Monterey County District Attorney's Office.
Police said they tried pulling Laguna over while he was driving in a stolen car. Laguna tried evading police while weaving through traffic, running two stop signs, and speeding up to 70 mph in downtown Salinas.
He failed to get an advantage, so he got out of the car, and officers led him on a lengthy foot pursuit through Chinatown, and a heavy police presence was called, said Pacioni.
After his prosecution, Laguna admitted to being previously convicted in Monterey County back in 2015 for assault with a firearm.
"Furthermore, the court found four factors in aggravation true: that his prior convictions are numerous and of increasing seriousness, that he was on probation at the time of this offense, that his prior performance on probation has been unsatisfactory, and that he has served a prior prison term," said Pacioni.
He faces the maximum of seven years and four months in state prison at his sentencing hearing on May 16, 2023.
Two suspects arrested in Salinas after shots fired and police chase
Two suspects were arrested Friday morning after a police chase and reports of a Honda Pilot being stolen and shots being fired near a church, according to Salinas Police.
The initial call came at 5 a.m. regarding a white Honda Pilot being stolen on Rico Street. Then at 7:30 a.m., officers investigated shots being fired in front of a church on Luther Way, according to police.
Investigators say they found six 9mm casings in the street. A witness said the driver of a white SUV fired six shots out the window toward a field, said police.
A patrol officer spotted the stolen vehicle near the tracks at 7:55 a.m. on Industrial Street, according to police. Within two minutes, two people arrived, got into the car, and drove northbound along the tracks toward John Street.
The driver was identified as Antonio Laguna, 31, and the passenger was Stephanie Lorraine Mercado, 31. Several awaiting officers and detectives intercepted the car at the John Street tracks, said police.
A chase ensued, and the suspects drove through stop signs on Spring Street, Summer Street and through surrounding neighborhoods, said police. The pursuit then turned into the parking lot of the old tortilla shop at East Market and Pajaro.
Laguna left Mercado behind and began running until he arrived at a chain link fence by the Chinatown tracks. He went through a hole in the fence and continued eastbound but turned around when he saw law officials running towards him, said police.
"Laguna made his way across the train trestle and hooked back onto southbound Main Street and was running southbound along the westside sidewalk under the trestle when he was challenged at gunpoint by officers," said police in a statement. "Rush hour traffic was stopped as an arrest team gave Laguna instructions that he ignored."
He kept ignoring officers' commands, searching for an escape, and was hit three times by a 40mm baton, said police. He was then arrested and taken to Monterey County Jail.
Mercado was also arrested and found with a stolen ID and social security card in her bra, said police. The IDs were from a burglary Thursday night.
