Man Accused In 12 Vallejo Robberies: Police

VALLEJO, CA — A man suspected in a series of robberies at gas stations and convenience stores during the month of March in Vallejo was arrested in early April after detectives and witnesses identified him as the suspect in several of the hold-ups, Vallejo police said.

"It quickly became apparent that the sole suspect in these cases was the same individual," Vallejo police Lt. Fabio Rodriguez said. "The suspect utilized fear, a knife and eventually, a firearm to carry out these robberies."

The robberies took place between March 2 and March 31, Rodriguez said.

"During the investigation, detectives identified Kadeem Reese, a 30-year-old Vallejo resident, as the robbery suspect, after witnesses positively identified him in several of these robberies," Rodriguez said.

Patrol officers took Reese into custody April 3.

Rodriguez noted that Reese has prior convictions for assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, possession of drug paraphernalia, and was wanted on a parole warrant.

"In total, detectives identified Reese as being involved in 12 robberies in the City of Vallejo," Rodriguez said.

As part of the investigation, detectives learned Reese was associated with a woman wanted on suspicion of unrelated robbery reported at 6:07 p.m. March 27 in the 900 block of Admiral Callaghan Lane in Vallejo, Rodriguez said.

In the March 27 robbery, when loss prevention personnel confronted the woman on suspicion of shoplifting, she approached the employees and purposely began coughing in their faces, the lieutenant said.

"Fearing for their safety, the employees backed away, allowing the suspect to flee to a getaway car," Rodriguez said. "The female, in this case, was identified as Julie Santos, a 40-year-old, Vallejo resident."

According to Rodriguez, Santos turned herself in Tuesday night to the Vallejo Police Department.

"In addition to being wanted for the robbery, Santos was also wanted on an unrelated warrant for theft," Rodriguez said.

According to the lieutenant, Santos was previously convicted of disturbing the peace, making annoying phone calls, assault with a deadly weapon, burglaries, theft, bringing a controlled substance into a prison, trespassing, and battery.

Solano County jail records showed Reese was being held in lieu of $1 million bail as of Wednesday night.

Santos was still in custody, too, but in lieu of $55,000 bail, according to jail records.

Anyone who has more information about the investigations into Reese or Santos or the robberies is asked to contact Detective Terry Schillinger at 707-648-4278.