Rooftop Arrest: Benicia Man Accused In Burglary, Home Invasion

SOLANO COUNTY, CA — A Benicia man was arrested on suspicion of commercial burglary and home invasion in an incident that began early Tuesday morning and involved several law enforcement agencies, Vallejo police said.

Officers first responded at about 5:30 a.m. Tuesday to a commercial burglary alarm at Launderland, 738 Sereno Drive, police Sgt. Jeff Tai said in a news release. The responding officers determined a burglary had occurred and saw a possible suspect walking away from the area, he said.

The officers tried making contact with the suspicious person but he ran off, so they chased him as he ran across the railroad tracks and jumped over several fences, Tai said.

The suspect, identified only as 29-year-old Benicia man, then ran inside Medic Ambulance, Tai said.

Several employees were inside the business as the suspect "broke through a locked door and ran out of the back of the business," Tai said.

The suspect then reportedly jumped a fence into the backyard of a home in the 1600 block of Broadway Street and climbed through a bedroom window where the homeowners were sleeping, the sergeant said.

"The homeowner attempted to arm himself with a rifle he had nearby and a physical struggle ensued over the rifle," Tai said. "During the struggle the homeowner and the suspect fell to the floor and the suspect found a loaded shotgun under the bed and armed himself with it."

Fearing for their lives, the homeowners called 911 and then went to the front of their residence.

"Responding officers surrounded the house and rescued the victim homeowners via the front door of the home," Tai said.

A large perimeter was established, with California Highway Patrol provided a K-9 unit and a helicopter to find the suspect who'd fled the residence with a shotgun, the sergeant said.

Officers from California Maritime Academy and American Canyon police departments also responded to assist in the search for the suspect.

At about 7:15 a.m., the CHP helicopter crew spotted the suspect on the roof of a business on Couch Street.

"Vallejo officers began negotiating the suspect's surrender," Tai said. "VPD officers, with the assistance of the Vallejo Fire Department, were able to get onto the roof and arrest the suspect at 7:30 a.m. without incident. Officers located the stolen shotgun along the suspect's path of travel."

The suspect was booked into Solano County Jail on multiple felony offenses, the sergeant said.

The Vallejo Police Department did not release the suspect's name.

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