Police announce arrests in string of robberies, gang-related shootings

The Salinas Police Department today announced a series of high-profile arrests in gang-related shootings and armed robberies,  crediting more anonymous crime tips for breakthroughs on seven cases.

During a press conference where a table of rifles and handguns were on display and posters of mug shots lined a wall, Police Chief Louis Fetherolf repeatedly stressed that information from the public was crucial in making the arrests. “The following crimes have been solved and very dangerous criminals have been arrested as a result of confidential information that has come from witnesses…who are no longer willing to let the gangsters control their lives and community,” Fetherolf said.

Most recently police arrested Jose Manzo on suspicion of stealing a purse in January,  robbing a Subway in north Salinas twice in April, and robbing La Vina Market on April 24. On Thursday police arrested Manzo and his alleged accomplice Mario Ramirez after serving a search warrant on the 1400 block of Nichols Avenue. Police are investigating whether the pair committed several other armed robberies that occurred this year.

On April 8 police arrested Juan Cervantes and Marco Guido, both 20, for possessing handguns, which police allege are directly tied to homicides in Salinas. Cervantes is also the primary suspect in one gang-related homicide but police would not give further details because the case is still under investigation. Cervantes is the son of Roberto Cervantes, who was shot and killed in September of last year near Hartnell College.

In a different case, police have allegedly linked seven armed robberies, including six grocery stores and one fast food restaurant, to Alexiz Hernandez, 20, Rafael Ernesto Gabriel, 19, and Raul Perez, 20.  The three men were arrested in February on suspicion of robbing Safeway in Del Rey Oaks. The Salinas robberies took place between December and January.