Release Date/Time: 1/10/2018 2:26 PM
Incident: Homicide Arrest
Date: Wednesday, 1/10/2018
Time: 2:26 PM
Location: 300 Blk of E. Laurel Dr.
On December 11, 2017, 29-year-old Hector Oswaldo Sandoval was shot and killed in the 700 block of Holly St. After being shot, Sandoval was left in the middle of the street as the suspects drove away in his car. Sandoval was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation by Salinas Police Detectives revealed Sandoval had been with two acquaintances, Gerardo Abel Cerna, age 28 and his brother, Miguel Angel Cerna, age 21. All three arrived in the area and, for an unknown reason, Sandoval was shot in the head with a shotgun. After the shooting, Sandoval was removed from his car by the one or both of the brothers, and left in the middle of the street. Detectives presented their case to the Monterey County District Attorney's Office, who issued arrest warrants for the Cerna brothers.
At approximately 5:00 am today, (January 10, 2018) the arrest warrants and search warrants were executed simultaneously at 300 block of E. Laurel St. and 1100 block of Green St. in Salinas. The Monterey County Sheriff's Department SWAT team served the warrant on Green St., while the Salinas Police Department's SWAT team served the warrant on E. Laurel Dr. where both Gerardo and Miguel Cerna were taken into custody without incident.
Gerardo Cerna was booked into the Monterey County Jail for Murder, Carjacking, Possession of a Firearm by a Felon and Possession of Ammunition.
Miguel Cerna was booked for Accessory after the Fact for Murder, Stolen Vehicle and Carrying a Loaded Firearm.
The Salinas Police Department would like to thank the Sheriff's Department for assisting us in taking these dangerous individuals into custody.
Anyone with information related to the crime or who may have been a witness is encouraged to contact the Salinas Police Department Investigations Division at (831) 758-7226. If you would like to remain anonymous, you can call the Salinas Police Department Anonymous Tip Line at 831-775-4222, or the We-Tip Line at 1-800-78-CRIME.
Release Authorized by: Christopher Lane, Investigations Sergeant
Telephone: 831-758-7226