Armed Suspect Arrested Following Foot Pursuit at Crowded King City Event
KING CITY, CA — A joint effort between the King City Police Department and the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office led to the arrest of an armed suspect who fled through a crowded event with a loaded handgun.
On September 26, 2026, at approximately 10:03 p.m., King City Police responded to reports of a disturbance at a party where 22-year-old Luis Rodriguez, of Soledad, allegedly brandished a firearm and threatened an individual before fleeing.
Investigating officers received information indicating Rodriguez might be heading to another gathering on the 500 block of Bitterwater Road and requested assistance from the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.
An responding MCSO deputy spotted Rodriguez at the scene. Upon seeing law enforcement, Rodriguez fled on foot through a crowded area while holding a firearm. During the chase, Rodriguez discarded the gun onto the ground. The deputy deployed a TASER in an attempt to stop him, but Rodriguez continued running before ultimately hiding under a nearby vehicle, where he was apprehended without further incident.
During the foot pursuit, an adult female associate of Rodriguez allegedly stepped into the deputy’s path to obstruct his pursuit, causing him to briefly lose sight of the suspect.
Deputies recovered the discarded handgun, which was loaded with a 15-round magazine and a round in the chamber. A search of Rodriguez’s vehicle yielded an additional fully loaded large-capacity magazine, and deputies located controlled substances on his person.
Rodriguez received a medical evaluation before being booked into the Monterey County Jail on charges including possession of a loaded firearm, possession of a controlled substance while armed, firearm offenses, destruction of evidence, probation violations, and resisting or obstructing an officer. His bail was set at $120,000.
Sheriff’s officials stated they will also request misdemeanor obstruction charges against the female associate for interfering with the deputy.
