Parolee Arrested in Continued Police Effort to Quell Salinas Violence

Law enforcement agencies arrested a fugitive yesterday in another effort to control the recent spike in violence.

The Salinas Police Department, along with the Monterey County Joint Gang Task force and members of the U.S. Marshalls, tracked down wanted parolee Pedro Velasco at a home in the 1200 block of Granda Avenue, police say.

Police say the 23-year-old suspect tried to escape out a window, but ducked back inside after being confronted by officers posted out back. Police hailed Velasco for 15 minutes before he surrendered.

The arrest comes after a similar operation on Aug. 2 that took in 11 people. Police conducted traffic stops, pedestrian checks, and probation and parole searches in places known for gang activity.

Not everyone who’s been arrested is necessarily connected to the crime wave, says Salinas Police Commander Stan Cooper. But the message associated with the busts is: “If you are a gang member, or associate with them, we may be looking at you next,” Cooper says by e-mail.

Cooper says that with increased police pressure, street violence often declines—at least that’s how the cycle of gang violence and retaliation has worked in the past. How effective that is, though, is unknown because another gang confrontation could start the whole cycle over again.   

“Our detectives are tirelessly working to establish solid leads and solve these cases,” Cooper says. “Many times it is a true whodunit based on the limited information they receive. It’s hard to solve a crime where the only information may be a subject in dark clothing running from the scene.”

The commander calls on the public—or those who witness crimes—to step forward to help more cases get solved.

“We know it’s a scary thing to put oneself out there by coming forward, but it is truly the only way the community is going to send a message that it won’t be tolerated,” Cooper says.

Meanwhile, a 17-year-old suspect in a June shooting that didn’t lead to any deaths was arrested and booked in Juvenile Hall, police say.