A 35 YEAR-OLD MAN DIED AS THE RESULT OF INJURIES HE SUFFERED IN A HIT-AND-RUN ACCIDENT IN SALINAS LAST NIGHT. THAT INCIDENT OCCURRED AROUND 8:30 P.M., AT THE INTERSECTION OF EAST ALISAL AND TOWT STREETS. WITNESSES SAY A WHITE SUPER-CAB PICK-UP TRUCK WAS DRIVING EASTBOUND (AND THE PEDESTRIAN WAS CROSSING NORTHBOUND AT TOWT STREET), WHEN THE PEDESTRIAN WAS HIT. THE TRUCK REPORTEDLY CONTINUED EASTBOUND WITHOUT STOPPING. ANYONE WITH ANY INFORMATION ON THE TRUCK (OR ITS DRIVER) IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE SALINAS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE TRUCK MAY HAVE THE CALIFORNIA LICENSE PLATE NUMBER:
5 M 6 7 7 3 1

THE SALINAS POLICE OFFICER OF THE YEAR HAS BEEN NAMED. 8 YEAR VETERAN OFFICER KENNETH ELLSWORTH BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH THE MARINA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY IN AUGUST OF 1996, AND WORKED THERE UNTIL HE TRANSFERRED TO THE SALINAS POLICE DEPARTMENT IN APRIL OF 1999. SALINAS POLICE CHIEF DANIEL ORTEGA SAID ELLSWORTH IS CURRENTLY ASSIGNED TO THE PATROL DIVISION, AND IS 1 OF 3 CANINE OFFICERS. ELLSWORTH (AND HIS CANINE) HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE SALINAS VIOLENCE SUPPRESSION UNIT, THE NARCOTICS UNIT, AND THE DETECTIVE DIVISION. ELLSWORTH ALSO EARNED THE MONTEREY COUNTY PEACE OFFICER AWARD OF MERIT FOR 2004.

A BLIND HORSE WAS RESCUED FROM A RAVINE, AFTER A 100 FOOT TREE FELL AND OPENED A LARGE SECTION OF THE MILES RANCH CORRAL FENCE, AND THE HORSE WANDERED OUT AND SLID DOWN A 20-FOOT MUDDY SLOPE. FIREFIGHTERS FROM 3 DISTRICTS, INCLUDING THE FELTON FIRE DEPARTMENT?S LARGE ANIMAL RESCUE TEAM, SPENT 4 HOURS RESCUING ?AIMEE?, WHO APPEARED NOT TO HAVE SUSTAINED ANY SERIOUS INJURIES.

MILES RANCH, WHICH PROVIDES A HOME FOR 3 BLIND HORSES, AND ONE HORSE WITH A PERMANENT DISABILITY, IS REPORTEDLY A ?LABOR OF LOVE? FOR OWNERS STEVE AND TASHA MILES.

A SALINAS TEENAGER WAS ARRESTED FRIDAY, AS THE RESULT OF A DOMESTIC DISPUTE. SALINAS POLICE OFFICERS WERE CALLED AND TOLD THE 16 YEAR-OLD WAS OUT OF CONTROL, HAD ASSAULTED FAMILY MEMBERS, AND HAD CUT HIMSELF. THE TEEN WAS REPORTEDLY UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A STIMULANT, AS WELL AS ALCOHOL. HE WAS INITIALLY TAKEN TO NATIVIDAD MEDICAL CENTER (AS A PRECAUTION), AND THEN WAS BOOKED INTO MONTEREY COUNTY JUVENILE HALL.