Bicycle Stop Leads to Arrest of Probationer with Firearm 

June 25, 2025 – Monterey County Sheriff's Office officials report that on June 24, 2025, at about 2:14 A.M. (0214 hours), deputies arrested a documented gang member in Salinas for multiple felony charges following a proactive enforcement stop.

Deputies contacted 41-year-old Salinas resident, Raul Vela, a documented Salinas gang member, on East Lamar Street near North Main Street in Salinas. Vela was seen riding a bicycle in violation of the California Vehicle Code.

During the contact, Vela discarded a backpack. Deputies recovered the backpack and found a loaded Smith & Wesson .38 special revolver and narcotics paraphernalia.

Vela is a convicted felon and on probation. He was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Monterey County Jail on the following charges:

• 29800(a)(1) PC Felon in possession of a firearm
• 25850(a) PC Carrying loaded firearm in public
• 30305(a)(1) PC Felon in possession of ammunition
• 21510(b) PC Possession of switchblade knife
• 11364(a) H&S Possession of drug paraphernalia
• 1203.2(a) PC Violation of probation

Source & photo: Monterey County Sheriff's Office