Salinas child abuse case leads to several arrests

Four people are facing charges tied to a child abuse case in Salinas.

According to police, officers found the 10-month-old victim at an apartment on North Main Street on Thursday. The child had recent injuries to his lower limbs and upper torso. Detectives learned 19-year-old Michaella Davis was the adult in charge of the child when he was injured, but the cause of the injuries and person who caused them are still under investigation.

Police said they were initially contacted by Monterey County Child Protective Services on Monday, November 7 th , for a welfare check on the child at Adams Motel. However, when officers arrived they were told the child was at another location.

The officers arranged for the child’s babysitter to bring the child to them, but the child’s relatives, grandmother 64-year-old Chin Guajaro, 21-year-old Shayla Nukie and 24-year-old Jamie Santos brought the 10-month-old to police. The child was found to be healthy and not hurt.

A few days later, CPS contacted police once again about injuries to the child and police discovered the child originally shown to officers was not the correct child. Another child around the same age was shown to officers.

Police later found the correct child at the apartment on North Main and arrested Davis along with Nukie, Guajaro and Santos. Davis is facing child neglect and conspiracy charges. The three other relatives were charged with two counts of delaying the investigation, conspiracy and child neglect.

Five kids were placed in protective custody.