March 25, 2026 – Monterey Police Department officials report that on March 23, 2026, at around 7:08 P.M., Monterey Police Officers responded to a call at a motel in the 2100 block of North Fremont Avenue regarding a kidnapping in progress. Several people called 911 to report that a male had taken a child in his vehicle and, while fleeing the scene, struck two pedestrians.

Officers arrived on scene and identified the suspect as 40-year-old Daniel Hutchens from Atwater, along with the abducted child, Hutchens’ 4-year-old son. During the investigation, officers determined the following occurred.

Hutchens’ ex-wife and their two children, ages 4 and 1, were visiting Monterey and driving in their vehicle through the motel parking lot. When they parked, Hutchens followed them in a rental car and parked nearby. Hutchens was wearing a mask covering his face and assaulted his ex-wife while she was standing outside her vehicle. Hutchens forcibly removed his ex-wife’s watch and forced his way into her vehicle, where his two children were seated. Hutchens took his 4-year-old son from the vehicle and ran to the front seat of his rental car while holding his son.

Hutchens’ ex-wife started yelling for help, and a nearby witness tried to stop Hutchens from leaving the scene. The witness opened Hutchens’ car door, and Hutchens threatened the witness, claiming he had a gun and would shoot. Other witnesses began approaching Hutchens’ vehicle, and Hutchens accelerated in reverse at a high speed through the parking lot. As he did, Hutchens hit two pedestrians with the open car door, knocking both to the ground. Hutchens then fled with the child in his vehicle. Both victims hit by the vehicle sustained injuries and received treatment at the scene.

MPD officers issued a Be On The Lookout (BOLO) for Hutchens and used Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) to help locate him. A Seaside Police Officer using ALPR spotted Hutchens' vehicle and broadcast its direction of travel. Officers near Fremont Avenue and Portola Drive in Seaside found Hutchens' vehicle and attempted to make a traffic stop. Hutchens fled in his vehicle, prompting a chase. During the pursuit, Hutchens drove onto Highway 1 North, reaching speeds over 100 mph. At one point, Hutchens called 911 and made threats that he was armed and wouldn’t surrender. Near Highway 1 and Merritt Street, he drove the wrong way on the highway. Officers lost sight of Hutchens’ vehicle as he exited into Castroville but quickly found it unoccupied on Axtell Street near Benson Road. Several witnesses reported seeing Hutchens fleeing on foot with the victim.

Officers from multiple agencies responded to assist in the search for Hutchens and the victim, including the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, the California Highway Patrol, the Pacific Grove Police Department, the Seaside Police Department, the Salinas Police Department, California State Parks, and the Monterey Peninsula Regional Special Response Unit. Multiple drones were deployed, and officers used automated telephone calls through reverse 911, the APB Net Flyer network, media resources, and an Amber Alert to notify community members of the abduction and to gather their help in finding the suspect and child.

Just after 10:00 P.M., community members in Castroville called 911 dispatch to report a male with a child walking near Blevins and Via Linda. They tried to follow the subjects but did not see where they went. Shortly after, at 10:18 P.M., a drone captured Hutchens and the victim walking near the North Monterey County Middle School on Seymour Street. Officers converged on this location and took Hutchens into custody without incident. The victim was attended to by police and paramedics at the scene, but did not suffer significant physical injuries. MPD detectives transported the victim’s mother to Castroville, where she was reunited with her son.

Hutchens was booked into Monterey County Jail on charges of 207 PC – Kidnapping, 211 PC – Robbery, 245 PC – Assault with a Deadly Weapon, 243(e)(1) PC – Domestic Violence, 2800 CVC – Felony Evasion, and 273A PC – Felony Child Abuse. MPD officers requested a bail enhancement, and Hutchens was held without bail.

The Monterey Police Department would like to acknowledge everyone involved in bringing this situation to a positive resolution. The initial community members who attempted to intervene with the suspect to stop the kidnapping; the Seaside PD, Pacific Grove PD, Salinas PD, California Highway Patrol, Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, California State Parks, Marina PD, Sand City PD, Carmel PD, Del Rey Oaks PD, CSUMB PD, Monterey Fire Department, North Monterey County Fire District, AMR, and Monterey County Emergency Communications “dispatch”; Felix Cortez and Jazmon DeJarnette with KSBW; and the Castroville community members who provided information through dispatch.

Source: Monterey Police Department