Man Arrested for Criminal Threats Targeting Monterey Bay Half Marathon; Illegal Assault Weapons Seized in Subsequent Search
MONTEREY, CA — “On Sunday, November 9, 2025, at 7:11 a.m., a male called 9-1-1 and stated he was trying to sleep and related that there were protesters on Del Monte, indicated he was going to shoot them and that he was on Park Avenue and walking down with an AR, and mentioned the marathon and hung up. When dispatch and MPD tried to call him back he did not answer his phone. The Monterey Bay Half Marathon had just started and the start line was located at Del Monte Avenue and Camino El Estero.
The Monterey Bay Half Marathon is held every year in November and draws thousands of runners and spectators to the Monterey waterfront and downtown.
To staff the 13.1 mile event that runs through Monterey and Pacific Grove, the Monterey Police Department (MPD) utilizes “all-hands” staffing and works with the Big Sur Marathon Foundation race staff, the Pacific Grove Police Department, the Monterey Fire Department, other City Departments, the Monterey Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), and volunteers to close streets, direct racers and ensure the security and safety of the event.
When the threat was received, the MPD immediately redirected resources to start coordinating the investigation to ascertain who the caller was, resources to search for an as yet unidentified subject throughout the area, and continued to utilize resources to ensure the race was proceeding.
The investigation provided a possible identity of the subject who was not from the Monterey area. Based on that information, investigators were able to determine vehicles associated with the subject and then utilized various technologies associated with the recently implemented MPD Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) camera system, to locate the subject’s vehicle on Park Avenue unoccupied at approximately 7:42 a.m. Officers continued to develop leads and were able to find the subject at a residence in the area and detained him at approximately 9:00 a.m.
The subject was identified as Sean Klinger, 53 years old of Carmichael, California. Klinger stated he was in Monterey visiting an acquaintance and admitted to making the phone call and threat. Officers searched the residence where Klinger was located and recovered a handgun. Klinger was arrested on charges of 422 PC – criminal threats and MPD sought a bail enhancement of $250,000.
After Klinger’s arrest, MPD officers determined Klinger owned several firearms that were stored at his Carmichael residence. MPD officers obtained a Gun Violence Restraining Order and Search Warrant for Klinger’s residence in Carmichael. MPD Officers traveled to Carmichael that evening and served the warrant with the assistance of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. Officers recovered several firearms including three illegal assault rifles. Klinger faces additional charges for possession of the assault rifles in Sacramento County.”
