Salinas man pleads no contest to carjacking, assault with a deadly weapon and DUI charges, DA says

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV)- The Monterey County District Attorney's Office said that a 28-year-old Salinas man plead no contest to multiple charges including carjacking and DUI causing great bodily injury

According to Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni, Adrian Gonzalez called for a taxi to pick him up near the Home Depot near North Davis Road on Oct. 11, 2022.

Pacioni said that the female taxi driver noticed Gonzalez acting erratically and making nonsensical comments.

The driver felt afraid asked Gonzalez to get out of the taxi and he complied. Pacioni said Gonzalez punched the driver in the face, threw her to the ground and drove off in the taxi.

The woman called 911 and reported the incident to police.

Pacioni said that Salinas Police spotted Gonzalez still driving the stolen taxi as he was entering Southbound Highway 101 at Boronda Road.

When Gonzalez entered Highway 101, Pacioni said he accelerated to speeds up to 100 MPH.

Pacioni said that Salinas Police followed Gonzalez until California Highway Patrol officers took over the pursuit.

Officers continued to follow Gonzalez and saw him strike other vehicles on purpose. CHP officers called off the pursuit as Gonzalez passed through Chualar.

Pacioni said that CHP officers continued to monitor the situation and saw Gonzalez exit on Highway 101, just north of Soledad.

Pacioni said that Gonzalez re-entered Highway 101 but headed northbound on Southbound Highway 101.

Officers said that Gonzalez drove the wrong-way for a couple of miles before colliding head-on into a Ford Focus which injured two people in the vehicle.

The California Highway Patrol arrested Gonzalez and he was found to under the influence of combined substances including methamphetamine, morphine and marijuana.

Pacioni said based on his plea, Gonzalez will serve 11 years and 8 months in state prison.