Category: kion-local-news

Victor Guzman

MONTEREY, Calif. (KION-TV) — Monterey Police say a sinkhole has forced a closure along David Avenue at Oak Street in Monterey overnight.

Police say the sinkhole is located between Newton and Pine streets.

According to police, the sinkhole happened because of a water main break in the area.

Right now there’s no estimated time for reopening and crews are at the scene attempting to patch up the road.

This is a developing story

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jose.romo

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — Growing concern about wildfires and insurance premiums rising throughout the state of California.

State Farm has announced a potential second price hike in just weeks. State Farm looks to increase homeowner insurance policies just weeks after approval of a 17 percent hike. The insurance company is claiming costs after the Southern California fires, prompting the change. 

“Here in Monterey, we do have wildfire risk. We do have areas of very high, high, and moderate fire hazard severity zones that were identified by the state fire marshal’s office,” Monterey Fire Division Chief Justin Cooper said.

Cooper also reiterates that it is important to be prepared after the damage shown in the Palisades fire. 

“It is very being proactive out in the communities as part of fire prevention. We work hand in hand with our forestry division here in Monterey, also with our adjoining cities, to help mitigate some of these hazards.” 

State Farm announced the additional increase would not surpass the 30 percent increase requested initially in June of last year. Still, homeowners and renters will see a significant change to their bills come June first. In a statement, State Farm said, “The overall request of 30 percent would not be on top of the 17 percent interim rate change. State Farm General is still pursuing the full rate request. A hearing on the full rate request is expected to be held this year.”

On Tuesday, the city of Monterey adopted new hazard maps. The chief said insurance premiums should not go up due to these risk models.

“They’re not supposed to be used by insurance companies for risk models,” Cooper said. “They use their own set of criteria to determine risk, and then they manage that risk, obviously, with insurance premiums and so forth for homeowners.”

State Farm added that they’ve paid more than $3.5 billion, handled more than 12,692 claims since May 12. They add that they need these emergency rate increases to continue to serve California residents.

These additional increases will need to be debated through the California Department of Insurance pending approval. The next hearing is set for October, where State Farm is expected to try to justify the rate hikes.

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Jeanette Bent

HOLLISTER, Calif. (KION-TV) — The Hollister Fire Fighters Association sent a letter to City Manager David Mirrione Tuesday that denied confidence in his ability to lead the city.

In the letter, the group said that although the decision was not made lightly, they feel that “deep and ongoing concerns that have escalated over time,” need to finally be addressed.

“We are writing to formally express a vote of no confidence in your leadership as City Manager of Hollister,” they wrote to Mirrione.

The association goes on to say that Mirrione has demonstrated fiscal mismanagement and lack in transparency over failing to publish the city’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (last publication date was in 2021).

“This absence of transparency not only violates public trust but raises serious questions about how taxpayer dollars are being managed,” according to the letter.

The Firefighters Association goes on to accuse Mirrione of jeopardizing public safety through “poor” handling of the fire protection negotiations. They say that relationships with partner agencies have become strained as a result.

Finally, the letter says that Mirrione demonstrated a consistent pattern of “micromanaging the department head’s responsibilities,” which limited his ability to lead and manage, as well as resulted in “low morale across the fire department.”

KION has reached out to both City Manager David Mirrione as well as the Hollister Fire Fighters Association for further comment. Neither have responded.

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Victor Guzman

HOLLISTER, Calif. (KION-TV) — The CHP confirms officers are investigating a deadly crash east of the Hollister Airport.

Dispatchers confirm to KION the crash happened just after 10 pm on Tuesday along Fallon and Scagliotti roads.

At least one person was killed, but the only additional information the CHP would provide is that the crash happened off-road and there was no impact to traffic at that time.

This is a developing story

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Jeanette Bent

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) — The Santa Cruz Fire Department said Sunday that they responded to reports of a structure fire at the Aqua Breeze Motel in Santa Cruz.

Upon arrival, firefighters say they learned that there was a disabled occupant trapped inside the building.

They say there was heavy smoke showing from the first floor, and hotel occupants were evacuating the building.

According to the City of Santa Cruz, firefighters from Engine 3110 and Truck 3170 extended a hoseline into the effected room and aggressively extinguished the fire while searching for victims.

They said that within seconds, units located an unconscious man in the room and carried him outside to awaiting medical care.

Firefighters who showed up later coordinated an effort to make sure that the fire did not spread to adjacent rooms as well as no further people in the building.

After the rescued man was treated by advanced medical care on scene, police say that he was transferred to an awaiting ambulance who took him to Dominican Hospital.

The City of Santa Cruz says that there are no updates on the victims condition.  

The fire is currently under investigation and not believed to be suspicious in nature.

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jose.romo

KING CITY, Calif. (KION-TV) –Today marks the last day of the Salinas Valley Fair. While it’s all about funnel cakes, turkey legs, and live entertainment for most, it’s also an opportunity for local ag students to showcase their hard work. Most of them say this experience has taught them time management skills along with creating a community.

“You really get to bond with animals you never thought you’d ever get to bond with,“ Jayce Duhon says. “You had to know the struggles and get to feed them ice cream.”

For Jayce, that is the most rewarding part of the annual Salinas Valley Fair. Celebrating the last day of their 81st weekend, organizers recognize the importance this fair has to the community. 

“This is a huge part of South County,” says Lauren Hamilton, CEO of the Salinas Valley Fair. “Everybody looks forward to our fair in May. They come out as such a fun family event, and it’s the annual celebration that everybody looks forward to.”  

For Nathan Marquez, owner of three food vending locations at the festival, his goal is to provide the community with the best customer care and great food options. “we appreciate all the customers and guests that are coming out. we say come out, have a good time, bring your family here.”

Once you get past the food and fun, the Salinas Valley Fair is also recognized for its livestock auctions. Many student members of Future Farmers of America and 4-H make their way here to sell the animals they’ve been working hard to raise.

Mekenzie Gearhart says, “the community is helping me out as well and also buying my goat. That also supports me as like a showman and a. person in high school.”

Jordan Davis, this year’s Miss Salinas Valley Fair, says she has worked closely with FFA and 4-H. She adds its a true learning experience. “Definitely time management. and… just not procrastinating on anything and figuring out what i have to get done throughout the and having a schedule ready to go.” 

The learning does not stop with the students. Jayce Duhon’s dad Justin says he has learned a lot from seeing his son and two daughters participate in these programs. “For Jayce, you know he’s got to overcome a huge animal compared to his size and just watch him kind of face some fears. It’s pretty neat and just the rewards. getting up early every day, go feed. say no sometimes to hanging out with friends because you’ve got to go feed at night.”

Jayce now gets to enjoy the rewards of his hard work. “I sold my animal for a surprising $8 thousand, which was amazing,” Jayce says with a smile. He adds that while his steer showed some nerves during the showmanship portion of the auction, he was able to pull through proud to have calmed it down. 

With the $8 thousand Jayce hopes to participate in a big baseball tournament in Cooperstown. He also hopes to buy his dream car.

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Lindsey Selzer

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) – A man has been sentenced to life in prison after the attempted murder of a police officer during an 2024 armed robbery.

37-year-old Armando Rodriguez Garcia has been sentenced to 15 to life with an additional term of 41 year and 8 months.

Early this year, Garcia was convicted on multiple charges including seven count of an assault on a peace officer with a semiautomatic weapon, three counts of armed robberng and being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition.

This stems from an armed robbery on June 4, 2024, where Rodriguez Garcia went up to three men walking in King City and pulled a semiautomatic weapon on them, asking for their phones and wallets. After taking the phones and wallets, Rodriguez Garcia left the area in a car being driven by a friend of his.

Once on Highway 101, Rodriguez Garcia was spotted heading northbound with a pursuit being initiated by Greenfield and King City Police.

After stopping in Soledad, Rodriguez Garcia opened fire on a King City patrol vehicle, firing four shots at a lead officer and six other Greenfield and King City officers.

Rodriguez Garcia was then struck by gunfire and fell to the ground, being transported to the Natividad Medical Center to be treated for injury.

Man convicted of multiple charges including attempted murder in 2024 armed robbery

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) – A man is convicted of multiple charges, including the attempted murder of a peace officer during a 2024 armed robbery in King City.

According to the Monterey County District Attorney’s office, 37-year-old Armando Rodriguez Garcia was found guilty of attempted murder and seven counts of assault on a peace officer with a semiautomatic firearm.

Garcia was also found guilty on three counts of armed robbery, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Garcia had approached three men walking on a bridge in King City and robbed them of their phones and wallets with his gun before leaving the area in a black Mazda.

Later that night, Greenfield Police found the Mazda traveling on northbound Highway 101 and attempted to stop the car, leading to a quick pursuit. Greenfield Police alerted King City Police of Garcia’s car.

Garcia started shooting from the passenger side before exiting the car and firing at police, firing four shots. Two King City officers fired back as Garcia ran toward a shopping center in Soledad.

Garcia was then struck by gunfire and transported to Natividad Medical Center.

Garcia is expected to be sentenced on June 10, facing up to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

DA’s Office identifies two King City Police Officers who were involved in an officer-involved shooting on Highway 101

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office has released the names of two King City Police officers who were involved in an officer-involved shooting on Highway 101.

According to a spokesperson with the DA’s Office, Sgt. Anthony Shaw has been employed as a sergeant with King City Police for three years and nine months. Shaw was a peace officer with Central Marin Police Authority for 13 years, 4 months.

The other officer involved was Cody Hughes per Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni. Hughes has only been with King City Police for three months. Before joining King City Police, Hughes was a Monterey County Probation Officer for 16 years.

The suspect involved in the shooting, 36-year-old Armando Garcia Rodriguez is currently being treated at a local hospital and will be booked into the Monterey County Jail.

The DA’s office said that Rodriguez fired four rounds at officers before Shaw and Hughes returned fire on Monday night.

Man accused of armed robbery and shooting at police officers identified by Monterey County D.A.

The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office has identified the man accused of armed robbery and shooting at police officers near Soledad on Monday night.

The D.A.’s office says 36-year-old Armando Garcia Rodriguez will be booked into the Monterey County Jail once he’s treated at a local hospital for injuries sustained when officers returned fire on Rodriguez during a traffic stop.

King City and Greenfield Police were initially pulling Rodriguez over because his vehicle matched the description of one involved in an armed robbery in King City just hours prior.

“As a woman, it’s scary because I feel like, it would be,” said Jessica Morales who works near where the attempted robbery happened. “It makes me an easy target.”

When the Mazda started slowing along Highway 101 near Soledad, the D.A.’s office says Rodriguez emerged from the passenger side of the vehicle and started shooting at police officers.

Two King City Police officers returned fire after Rodriguez allegedly fired four rounds at officers, according to the D.A.

Investigators say Rodriguez was hit once by gunfire in the incident but is expected to be okay.

According to the D.A., the driver of the Mazda told investigators she had no idea Rodriguez was going to commit a robbery and after he did so he “then threatened her with the firearm.” Investigators say he also directed her not to stop and would shoot her and police.

A .40 caliber semi-automatic ghost gun was recovered at the scene, according ot investigators.

The D.A. says the names of the officers involved in the shooting will not be released until interviews are conducted with the officers on Wednesday.

One was described as a peace officer with about 17 years of experience while the other had three months of experience.

The D.A. says they plan to file armed robbery and attempted murder of a peace officer charges against Rodriguez.

Rodriguez’s first date in court is not known at this time, pending treatment at the local hospital.

“I think it just put more safety around this area, especially because it’s it’s out here. It’s really I think it’s really easy to target people out here. So I think maybe more safety around here,” said Morales.

One suspect shot after armed robbery ends in an officer-involved shooting outside of Soledad along Highway 101, officers say

King City Police said that a male suspect was shot by officers after leading police on a car chase that ended on Highway 101.

According to the King City Police Department, at approximately 6 p.m. Monday night, officers were dispatched to South First Street between Lonoak Road and Division Street for an armed robbery.

Investigators said that three victims had been walking down South First Street when a vehicle pulled up next to them and a Hispanic male suspect stepped out and pointed a gun at them, demanding their personal property before fleeing with the stolen merchandise.

Officers identified the suspects’ vehicle during the follow up investigation, with officers from the Greenfield Police located the suspect vehicle traveling Northbound Highway 101. Officers attempting a vehicle stop but the suspects’ vehicle refused to yield, starting a pursuit that was taken over by King City Police.

Eventually, the vehicle yielded just south of the Front Street exit, the Hispanic male suspect got out of the vehicle and started opening fire at officers who returned fire and hit him once. The suspect was taken to a nearby hospital for his injuries and is expected to survive.

There were no officer injuries reported by King City Police.

Officers involved have not been named at this point. The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office is taking over the case.

Original Story

Multiple Monterey County law enforcement agencies are confirming to KION that an armed robbery in King City ended with an officer- involved shooting near Soledad on Monday night.

Multiple suspects led officers on a chase along northbound Highway 101 and eventually stopped at Arroyo Seco Road where they opened fire on officers, according to sources.

Officers fired back at the suspects, striking one of the suspects. It’s unknown what their condition is at this time.

At this point, The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office is taking over the case.

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jose.romo

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) – The City of Salinas is looking at a rental assistance program as an alternative for the community. Some local folks remain with many questions and concerns as to this potential decision. City Council presented with the option to emulate a renter’s assistance program, Tuesday afternoon. 

Among the projects looked at, the city of Monterey which in the past has used $250 thousand in general fund money. 

“The staff will start looking for financial partners in the city and maybe in the county,” Councilmember for District two, Tony Barrera, says. “They’re going to be bringing in other groups that can assist us on how to figure this program out.”

The assistance program presentation included those whose rent is more than 80 percent of their income, senior citizens and other eligibility requirements to consider through a renters application process. The projected cost, more than $500 thousand in employee wages, technology fees, and other additional expenses.

“Where’s the funding for this rental assistance program coming from?” Luis Xago Juárez, community organizer with Building Healthy Communities, worries the city does not have enough funds.

“Is it coming from taxpayers? What that does is it taps into our taxpayer, our pool, our money to go and support the efforts of the landlords,” he adds.

City Council suggested searching for local and external partners before pulling from general funds. Amy Salmina, local property manager, says this assistance program would be beneficial. “I believe that there are funds that will be remaining from the rental assistance program to seed it. Other organizations that Aurelio (Salazar) mentioned, maybe FEMA, the mayor mentioned, community involvement, maybe the one-time fee from property owners.”  

The council was advised that many rental assistance programs have been successful in the past. A common practice among those has been pulling resources from the city’s general fund. Councilmember Barrera feels the city should be careful with that decision. 

“We have to be conscientious that that’s where we pay our employees,” Barrerra adds.  “We have to make sure that if we do get money from the general fund, that we don’t affect people’s employment as well.”

Among other alternatives, the city council also suggested increasing the minimum wage in Salinas. The decision for this rental assistance program will still take a few months.

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Jeanette Bent

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) — Another Central Coast festival is hitting the breaks this year. Although not canceled completely, the Salinas Valley Food and Wine Festival will be postponed because of financial hardships and a lack of helping hands.

“People think of lettuce and strawberries and artichokes, but I mean wine, you just look around, a lot of fields have turned to vineyards,” said Sean Laughingtree

The golden crop is what Sean, who works at an antique store in Salinas, calls grapes that grow on the central coast.

“Wine, growing of grapes has been an integral part, like a huge part of our agriculture now,” said Laughingtree.

The Salinas Valley Food and Wine Festival was a celebration of that crop, bringing in regional and local wine vendors.

Business owner Frank Savino says, beyond the buzz, the festival brings foot traffic and funds for local causes.

“The beauty of having it downtown is getting, you know, a thousand plus people to walk past your business in a four or five hour period,” said Savino

“We like donating the profit to the local community. We do education, agriculture. We have scholarships.”

One of the main organizers of the event, Joel Panzer, says there’s a slew of reasons the festival isn’t happening this year.

“The first one is just volunteer fatigue. As I mentioned, for the past six years, the core group has been putting on the festival. And we’ve been unable to recruit new volunteers from the community, our prices have really increased quite a bit over the last few years to produce it, the third dynamic is this year alone, I would say there’s probably $20,000 to $25,000 worth of corporate sponsorships or sponsorships that we know are not gonna come through,” said Joel Panzer, Organizer for the Salinas Valley Food and Wine Festival.

Panzer adds that the cost to hold the event is over 60 thousand dollars and relies on those sponsors.

Sean says he understands the reasoning behind the pause as an event organizer himself, and says postponing was the right choice if it means protecting the festival’s reputation.

“To not have enough volunteers to do that, people, I think, would go away with a really bad feeling and maybe not return the next year,” said Laughingtree.

While Panzer assures the festival will come back next year, a big question remains of if the event will remain in Old Town Salinas.

“That we don’t know we explored other options, and what we’re hearing the consistent feedback was people want it to be downtown,” said Panzer.

Some possible future venues Joel mentioned are the fairgrounds and the sheriff’s posse ground, but is working to keep it here in Old Town.

For more information about plans for the Salinas Valley Food and Wine Festival, visit salinasvalleyfoodandwine.com.

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Maxwell Glenn

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION) – CHP Monterey confirms a suspect is now in custody following a string of incidents in north Monterey County.

The California Highway Patrol was dispatched just after 9:00 p.m. on Monday night after receiving reports of a hit-and-run.

The suspect was first involved in a crash near San Miguel Canyon Road and Hambey Lane. The car then reportedly continued traveling north, crashing near San Miguel Canyon Road and Corto San Miguel Canyon Road. The second incident involved a power pole, but after PG&E performed an integrity check, it was deemed to have sustained little damage.

The third and final incident happened at San Juan Road and Tarpey Road. According to the CHP, the suspect’s vehicle collided with another car, resulting in minor injuries.

The suspect fled the crash but was quickly found and arrested.

DUI is suspected to be a factor, according to the CHP.

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