Monterey OIS suspect charged in Chualar murder case

UPDATE 10/17/16 5:50 p.m.: We’re learning new information about an officer-involved shooting involving the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.

The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office in the main agency now investigating the case. They said deputies were trying to serve an arrest warrant on Paulo Barcenas, 36, at the Casa Verde Inn in Monterey early Saturday morning. Armed with a .32 semi-automatic pistol, they said he fired shots at deputies. None of the deputies were hit, but one returned fire, hitting Barcenas in the left chest area. The DA’s Office responded to take over the investigation.“We would take control of the crime scene at that point,” said Berkley Brannon, Monterey County Chief Assistant District Attorney. “We would deploy investigators and we would go ahead and interview the folks involved that we need to interview. The purpose of us investigating an officer-involved shooting is actually to determine whether any charges should be brought against any of the officers. So that is our purpose. We also have a dual purpose in this case, because we’re also prosecuting Mr. Barcenas.”

Brannon said Barcenas is one of the suspects involved in the death of Ronnie Cronn who went missing in May but his body was found in September near Chualar.

“We filed murder charges on him today, in connection with the Chualar murder,” Brannon said. “He would also be facing charges as a result of the standoff with the sheriff’s deputies, and we’ll have to take a look at our investigation to take a look at what charges he’ll face because of that.”

The discovery of Cronn’s body led authorities to a meth lab in North Salinas, where they found two suspects. Jeffrey Madruga and Julie McClure have already pleaded not guilty to murder and drug charges.

No word when Barcenas will be arraigned, he is still in the hospital in critical condition.

UPDATE 10/17/16 11:05 a.m.: More details are emerging in the case of a murder suspect arrested after he was shot by a deputy at a motel in Monterey on Saturday.

On Monday, the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office said the suspect, Paulo Barcenas, has been arrested as a third suspect in the Chualar murder case. Prosecutors said Ronnie Cronn’s body was found last month after he went missing in May.

Jeffrey Madruga and Julie McClure are also facing murder and drug charges in the case. During the sheriff’s office investigation, deputies said Cronn’s body led them to a meth lab inside a Salinas home.

Barcenas is still in the hospital Monday.

Over the weekend, the DA’s office initially indicated Barcenas was tied to a case out of Castroville.

UPDATE 10/15/16 12:35 p.m.: Dela Vina Ave. and Casa Verde Way remain closed. It is uncertain when the streets will reopen.

UPDATE 10/15/16 10:43 a.m.: The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office said homicide suspect Paulo Barcenas, 36, was arrested from Casa Verde Inn and taken to the hospital after a standoff turned into an officer-involved shooting early Saturday morning.

Sheriff Steve Bernal said deputies tried to serve a search warrant at about 1:18 a.m. While they were serving the warrant, Bernal said Barcenes shot at Monterey County SWAT team members. The Monterey County Bomb Squad was called out to help and a bomb robot was sent into the room.Bernal said Barcenes continued shooting at officers and the robot, prompting one deputy to fire his gun to protect officers, people staying at the motel and the public.

Barcenes taken to the hospital for surgery and his exact condition is unclear.District Attorney Dean Flippo said Barcenas was wanted for a murder in May in the Castroville area. Flippo said a lot of details aren’t being released because there are other suspects in custody on the same case.

Bernal said no law enforcement officers were hurt or hit during the gunfire. The Monterey County DA’s Office is taking over the investigation.

He also said people were evacuated from the motel during the investigation – water and power were also cut off for nearby businesses. Fremont Blvd. was re-opened at about 10 a.m.

UPDATE 10/15/16 8:20 a.m.: The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office said the suspect was arrested. A portion of Fremont Blvd. near Casa Verde Way is still closed off while the investigation continues.

PREVIOUS STORY 6:34 a.m.: A standoff continues Saturday morning at a motel in Monterey as deputies try to arrest an armed suspect who fired shots at law enforcement.According to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, a man is holed up inside a room at Casa Verde Inn in the 2000 block of Fremont Blvd. and is refusing to come out.

A commander said their attempts to arrest the man started around 11:30 p.m. Friday night. The Monterey County SWAT team and Monterey Police were called in to help.

A window was broken and tear gas was used to try to coax the man out of the room, when two shots were fired out at SWAT team members, according to the commander. No one was hurt.

Investigators said they aren’t sure if the man is alive. The sheriff’s office isn’t releasing the man’s name yet, but said he is wanted for a felony.

One side of Fremont Blvd. is closed from Dela Vina Ave. to Casa Verde Way.