Hollister Police were on the lookout Tuesday night for a
suicidal Morgan Hill man who called his ex-wife and 3-year-old son
while on the run from law enforcement.
Hollister Police were on the lookout Tuesday night for a suicidal Morgan Hill man who called his ex-wife and 3-year-old son while on the run from law enforcement.
The California Highway Patrol arrested Michael Morales, 34, of Morgan Hill, at approximately 9 p.m. Tuesday after he was pulled over for suspected drunk driving on U.S. 101 and led officers on a foot chase ending on Murphy Avenue in Morgan Hill.
However, local police were alerted Morales could be headed to Hollister at approximately 5:45 p.m. and stationed officers at Tiffany’s Motors on San Felipe Road and San Juan Road.
Hollister Police Sgt. Ray Wood said the department was concerned Morales was driving toward Hollister in his 2001 Chevy truck to possibly harm Patty Salcedo, his ex-wife, and their child after learning he had called her twice.
Salcedo wasn’t home when officers attempted to contact her at her residence on Sixth Street.
After leaving several messages on Salcedo’s phone she later called back and said she had been notified earlier by Morgan Hill police and was at a safe place away from her residence.
Soon after, Hollister police were notified that Morales had been detained in Morgan Hill and was in custody.
However, the whole affair began hours before the arrest when Morales allegedly fired a shotgun in his home. Morales’ mother reported the gunshot and told officers she believed her son was suicidal from the effects of chemotherapy to treat lupus. She told officers he had not taken his medication this week.
“He told his mother he was ready to go,” Morgan Hill Police Lt. Joe Sampson said.
A Morgan Hill SWAT Team was dispatched to Morales’ home and tried to negotiate a surrender over cell phone conversations before learning he had fled the area after his mother left the home to call police. After the SWAT Team entered the home, they confiscated a 12-gauge shotgun, a scoped hunting rifle, a .10/.22 semi-automatic rifle and two cane swords from the home.
Morales faces charges of reckless discharge of a firearm and possession of illegal weapons. He never entered San Benito County, according to police.
