Monterey County deputies turned a local news disturbance call in Salinas into four arrests on July 2, 2026, after a concerned neighbor reported people outside a silver 2010 Chevrolet Traverse drinking Buzzballs and urinating in public. Deputies later recovered a loaded 9mm ghost gun from the vehicle and took two people into custody after the roadside struggle.
Salinas response at 8:14 A.M.
Deputies responded at 8:14 A.M. to Cornwall Street and Bellinzona Avenue in Salinas, where they contacted seven occupants inside the Chevrolet Traverse. Several appeared to be under 21, and deputies smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle. They also saw numerous empty Buzzballs on the floorboards.
A 15-year-old male juvenile became combative when deputies tried to detain him. Elizabeth Sandoval pushed a deputy during the arrest attempt, and deputies pepper sprayed her while tasing the juvenile. He tried to flee but fell into a ditch on the side of the road.
Elizabeth Sandoval and Maritza Aguilar
Deputies arrested Sandoval and the 15-year-old juvenile at the scene. Two male occupants and one female fled on foot down the drainage ditch during the commotion. AMR and Fire responded and medically assessed the arrestees, and AMR transported the juvenile to Natividad Hospital.
Elizabeth Sandoval, a 20-year-old passenger, and Maritza Aguilar, 29, from Watsonville, were transported and booked into the Monterey County Jail. The 15-year-old juvenile was later cited and released to his parents.
Monterey County Sheriff's Office
Deputies later searched the vehicle and found the loaded 9mm ghost gun under the rear passenger seat. Sheriff's Detectives identified another 15-year-old male juvenile as the person who possessed and concealed the gun before fleeing the scene, and he was later located at his residence, arrested, and booked into Monterey County Juvenile Hall.
Tina M. Nieto said the case shows why a neighbor’s call can change the course of a stop. “This case highlights the important role our community plays in keeping Monterey County safe. A concerned neighbor made the call, and our deputies responded professionally to a situation that proved to be much more serious than it first appeared. Public safety is strongest when our community and law enforcement work together,” she said. The adults were booked, the juvenile case moved to juvenile custody, and the gun recovery turned a disturbance report into a weapons investigation.
