CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE
KING CITY — On Dec. 12 at about 6:35 p.m., King City Police Department responded to the 500 block of Canal Street in regards to a fight in progress with a man down.
Upon arrival, officers located the victim, a 30-year-old Hispanic male, lying on the ground unconscious. He was provided first aid and turned over to medical personnel, where he was transported to a local hospital for moderate but non-life threatening injuries to the facial area.
The investigation revealed the victim was involved in a verbal altercation with the suspect, Joel Arciniega, 30, when the suspect threw several punches to the victim’s face and head. Another male joined in on the fight striking the victim as well causing the victim to fall to the ground unconscious.
Both suspects fled on foot prior to the officers’ arrival. With the cooperation of the witnesses on scene, the suspects were able to be identified. The investigation continued throughout the night, with officers locating evidence and information about the suspects.
On Dec. 13, at about 1:55 p.m., officers located Arciniega in the 300 block of Bassett Street, where he was taken into custody without incident on the charges of battery causing bodily injury, felony battery and an outstanding felony warrant. He was booked at the Monterey County Jail.
On Dec. 25 at about 8:42 p.m., King City Police responded to the 300 block of N. Vanderhurst Avenue for a burglary to a vehicle that had just occurred.
The victim advised he interrupted a male Hispanic wearing a dark hoodie over his head, tattoos on his arms and blue pants removing items from his car, which was locked and secured. The suspect fled on foot in a southerly direction from the victim. As officers arrived in the area they began receiving reports of a man fitting the above description looking into vehicles and running through yards.
One caller in the 300 block of Ellis Street advised of a man breaking into a car in his backyard. Officers went to the area and confronted the suspect, later identified as Arciniega, who was in a blue car in the yard. As officers approached Arcinega, he fled on foot and a foot chase ensued. He was caught on Collins Street and N. Vanderhurst Avenue and was taken into custody after a brief struggle.
The investigation revealed Arciniega broke into two different vehicles, taking approximately $1,000 in miscellaneous hand tools and stereo equipment from them without permission. The stolen property was recovered and returned to the owners; he tampered with three other vehicles attempting to gain entry into them, and resisted arrest by force.
The victims positively identified Arciniega in a field show up as the person who was breaking into the cars.
The arresting officers sustained minor injuries and have returned back to work.
Arciniega was booked at the Monterey County Jail on charges of burglary, tampering with an automobile, petty theft and resisting arrest by force.
King City Police Department would like to thank the public for the leads and telephone calls in this case.
