March 25, 2026 – Monterey County Sheriff’s Office officials report that members of the Multi-Agency Detail Combating Auto Theft (MADCAT) arrested a Soledad man Tuesday morning after observing him arrive at the Salinas Courthouse in a stolen vehicle.

On March 24, 2026, at approximately 11:00 a.m., MADCAT task force members observed Ricardo Otero, age 41, pull into the Salinas Courthouse parking area driving a vehicle that had been reported stolen out of San Jose. Deputies contacted Otero outside the courtroom where he was scheduled to appear for a pending auto theft case.

Otero was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Monterey County Jail. He was booked on the following charges:

• California Vehicle Code 10851(a) (Unlawful Driving or Taking of a Vehicle)
• Penal Code 12022 (Commission of a Felony While Released on Bail/Own Recognizance)
• California Vehicle Code 14601.1(a) (Driving With a Suspended License)

Source & photo: Monterey County Sheriff’s Office