Police are searching for a parolee recently released from
Pelican Bay State Prison who they say carjacked a Hollister man at
gunpoint Sunday morning on Buena Vista Road.
Hollister – Police are searching for a parolee recently released from Pelican Bay State Prison who they say carjacked a Hollister man at gunpoint Sunday morning on Buena Vista Road.
Police already have arrested a Gilroy resident allegedly involved in the incident for carjacking and attempted murder, along with four of the suspect’s acquaintances in a parole sweep Sunday evening while searching for him. But detectives are still searching for Dario Israel Casarez, 24, who was paroled last Thursday from Pelican Bay State Prison – a maximum security facility in Crescent City – for an assortment of drug, weapons and theft convictions and now is the main suspect in a carjacking and attempted murder, said Detective Chris Green. Green said Casarez is a known Norteño gang member and has many connections throughout the Central Coast.
Casarez and Gilroy resident Alex Hernandez, 32, who was arrested for his involvement in the incident and is being held at the San Benito County Jail in lieu of $1.3 million bail, allegedly carjacked a Hollister man after robbing someone at gun point at the Red Barn Flea Market in Monterey County earlier that day, said sheriff’s Lt. Pat Turturici.
The men hitched a ride with a Hollister resident on San Juan Hollister Road around 10:45am, and when they reached the 1700 block of Buena Vista Road, Casarez, who was sitting in the front seat, pointed a small handgun at the driver’s head, Turturici said. After a brief struggle with Casarez and Hernandez, who was sitting in the back seat and grabbed the driver from behind, the victim got out of the car and ran to a nearby residence to call police, Turturici said.
Sheriff’s deputies got physical descriptions of both men and requested all local law enforcement be on the look-out for men matching that description. Hollister Police Sgt. James Egan saw a man matching Hernandez’s description walking in the 30 block of Ortiz Court shortly after the carjacking took place and held him until sheriff’s deputies could arrive, Turturici said. The stolen car was found near where Hernandez was apprehended, and he was arrested for attempted murder, carjacking, possession of stolen property and vehicle theft, all felonies, said sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Wes Walker.
After deputies booked Hernandez, who has been a guest at the county jail several times dating back to 1992, they began looking for Casarez in residences around Hollister where an informant said he might be. Between 6:30pm and midnight, Sheriff’s deputies, Hollister police officers and drug enforcement and state parole agents arrested four Hollister residents in violation of parole who are known associates of Casarez.
During an arrest in the 700 block of Seventh Street at the home of Carlos Ureno, 27, and Jose Ureno, 28, Hollister Police Officer Chad Browning used the department’s newly-acquired Tasers for the first time to subdue Jose Ureno, who was resisting arrest, said police spokesman George Ramirez.
When officers arrived at the home around 8pm, both suspects ran toward the back of the residence, Ramirez said. Two officers chased Jose Ureno down and pushed him, face down, to the ground but he continued to resist, Ramirez said. After struggling with the officers, Browning shot Jose Ureno in the back of his right thigh with the stun-gun and officers were able to handcuff him and take him into custody, he said. The Taser dart was removed at Hazel Hawkins Hospital and Jose Ureno was booked into the county jail.
“It did exactly what we expected it to do, and it avoided any future injury to the suspect and any potential injury to any officer on the scene,” Ramirez said. “People need to know if they’re going to fight us they can be tased.”
Included in officers’ city-wide search for Casarez, officers arrested Jose Infante, 39, and Adrian Molina, 28, late Sunday night at Infante’s residence at 221 Santa Ana Road. Infante was arrested for parole violation, drugs for sale, possession of paraphernalia and conspiracy, all felonies, and Molina was arrested for violation of parole, drug possession, conspiracy and bringing drugs into the jail, all felonies.
Anyone with information about Casarez’s whereabouts should contact the sheriff’s department at 636-4080.
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected]
