A 3RD SUSPECT IS BEING SOUGHT IN CONNECTION WITH THIS MORNING’S SHOOTING AT A SALINAS POLICE OFFICER. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED DURING A HIGH-SPEED CHASE ON LOCAL ROADS IN SALINAS. THE CHASE ENDED WHEN THE SUSPECT-VEHICLE HIT A TREE NEAR NATIVIDAD CREEK PARK, AND THE DRIVER AND 2 PASSENGERS FLED INTO THE HEAVILY WOODED PARK. THE 25 YEAR-OLD DRIVER, WHO IS A KNOWN GANG MEMBER, AND HIS 27 YEAR-OLD PASSENGER (ANOTHER KNOWN GANG MEMBER) WERE ARRESTED, BUT THE 3RD SUSPECT MANAGED TO ELUDE CAPTURE THIS MORNING.
BECAUSE VIRGINIA ROCCA BARTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS NEAR THE PARK, SALINAS POLICE OFFICERS DIVERTED THE CHILDREN WHO WERE ARRIVING EARLY FOR SCHOOL TO A “SAFE ZONE” UNTIL THE SCHOOL WAS ACTUALLY READY TO OPEN.
