SALINAS — A woman and a friend staying at a hotel on De La Torre Avenue received an unwelcome surprise last week when an armed stranger came knocking.
While the woman’s friend was out, she heard a knock on the door of their hotel room. Upon answering, she was confronted by a man carrying a semi-automatic handgun who ordered her back into the room and demanded she hand over her phone, iPad, and ring. Before leaving, he warned her that he’d just killed a police officer and that she would die as well if she didn’t stay in the room.
Later that evening, however, she noticed the same man sitting in a vehicle in another part of town and immediately contacted police.
Responding officers attempted a stop on the US-101 off-ramp to Sala Road but were unsuccessful. The driver, later identified as 24-year-old Daniel Ramos of Gilroy, then led them on a pursuit all the way through the city of Hollister, at which point the CHP took over.
Ramos eventually lost control of the vehicle near Casa de Fruta and the chase came to an end.
He and his passenger, 47-year-old Richard Sanchez of San Jose, were arrested without incident and booked into Monterey County Jail. Ramos faces charges of felony evasion, robbery, and conspiracy, while Sanchez faces charges of robbery, conspiracy, being a violent ex-felon in possession of a firearm, and other weapons-related charges.
A third female passenger, whose identity remains confidential, was later released without being charged.
