MONTEREY COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES APPREHENDED A SUSPECTED CAR THIEF TODAY (MONDAY) AT LAGUNA SECA. 44-YEAR-OLD JOHN VERGUNST RAN AFTER PULLED OVER BY A CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROLMAN NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO LAGUNA SECA. OFFICERS SURROUNDED THE AREA AND WITH THE HELP OF A K-9 OFFICER, HE WAS FOUND HIDING IN SOME THICK BRUSH. VERGUNST WAS BOOKED INTO MONTEREY COUNTY JAIL ON CHARGES OF AUTO THEFT AND EVADING POLICE.

SALINAS POLICE OFFICERS RESPONDED TO A REPORT LATE THIS MORNING OF SEVERAL NORTENO GANG MEMBERS THREATENING TO "BLAST" A REPORTED SURRENO GANG RESIDENCE . THE RESIDENCE WAS LOCATED IN THE 900 BLOCK OF ACOSTA PLAZA. WHEN OFFICERS ARRIVED 6 OR 7 SUSPECTS FLED ON FOOT. ARRESTED AS THEY FLED WERE 18-YEAR-OLD MARCOS BOND, 25-YEAR-OLD MOISES GONZALES, AND A 17-YEAR-OLD JUVENILE MALE. 2 OTHERS FLED TO A NEARBY SCHOOL, THAT HAD TO BE PUT INTO LOCKDOWN. POLICE THEN ADVISED THAT NEIGHBORING JESSE G. SANCHEZ SCHOOL KEEP THEIR STUDENTS INSIDE WITH THE SHADES DRAWN, WHILE POLICE SEARCHED FOR THE REMAINING SUSPECTS. A SHORT TIME LATER, 18-YEAR-OLD HECTOR GONZALES, JUNIOR, AND 19-YEAR-OLD JERARDO SANTANA WERE APPREHENDED ON THE CAMPUS OF THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ACADEMY. ALL WERE LODGED AT COUNTY JAIL OR JUVENILE HALL.

A LAWSUIT AGAINST SAN BENITO COUNTY AND A FORMER SUPERVISOR WAS DROPPED. SUPERVISOR JAIME DE LA CRUZ AND RESTAURATEUR IGANCIO VELAZQUEZ DECIDED TO END THEIR $5 MILLION CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT. THEY SAID ONE REASON FOR THE DECISION, WAS THE INCREASE IN THE COUNTY'S HOSTILE POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE. ALSO THE COUNTY HAS ALREADY SPENT $300,000 IN ATTORNEY FEES ON THE CASE, WHICH DE LA CRUZ SAID WOULD BE BETTER SPENT TRYING TO SOLVE THE HOMELESS PROBLEM.

A VEHICLE LEFT UNLOCKED AND RUNNING, WAS STOLEN (EARLY SUNDAY MORNING), FROM THE SANTA CRUZ OWNER'S DRIVEWAY. ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER, THE OWNER FOUND HIS STOLEN VEHICLE NEAR THE HIGHWAY 1 OVERPASS ON SOQUEL. HE ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE MAN HE SAW WALKING AWAY FROM THE CAR, AND AN ALTERCATION ENSUED. DURING THE FIGHT, THE THIEF HIT THE VICTIM WITH A ROCK, BEFORE HE FLED. AN INTENSE POLICE SEARCH DID NOT PRODUCE RESULTS. THEY CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR A WHITE MAN, ABOUT 20-YEARS-OLD, 6 FEET TALL AND ABOUT 240 POUNDS. HE HAD BROWN HAIR, A BLACK LEATHER JACKET, BLUE LEVIS AND WHITE TENNIS SHOES. HE ALSO HAD WHAT APPEARED TO BE A SCAR OR A FRESH SCRATCH UNDER HIS EYE. TO LEAVE AN ANONYMOUS TIP OR INFORMATION, YOU CAN CALL (831) 420-5995