Suspect Was Carrying a Firearm
SALINAS—Deputies with the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office arrested a convicted felon and noted gang member 27-year-old transient Rodolfo Villa after he was spotted loitering in the area of West Laurel drive.
Monterey County Sheriff’s Deputies had initially responded to the area of Post Drive and Davis Road on a suspicious circumstances call. It seems that someone noticed a male that matched the description of a wanted suspect loitering in the area.
The Deputies canvassed the area in an extensive search. One deputy spotted a man that that matched the description walking along the ramp to southbound Highway 101 at Laurel Drive.
A Ruger MKII, similar to this one, was dropped during the chase.
After seeing he was spotted by the deputy, Villa started to run toward the middle of the overpass, but he was inadvertently running towards other responding deputies. As he ran, he threw what appeared to be a firearm off the overpass, onto the center median of Highway 101. The weapon was identified as a black Ruger MKII .22 caliber handgun, which was recovered.
After tossing the gun, Villa continued to run down Adams Street in an attempt to evade police. He ran through backyards of residences on Adams Street, and then Monroe Street, which backs up to Adams.
Deputies, with the help of the public, took Villa into custody as a passersby pointed him out to the deputies. Villa was on post release community supervision (PRCS) at the time of this incident. He is a prior convicted felon and is an admitted gang member. He was transported to Monterey County Jail and booked on multiple felonies, including carrying a concealed weapon, possessing a weapon as a convicted felon, and resisting arrest.
