Yesterday, a successful operation led to the arrest of two suspects connected to a series of burglaries which had put residents in nearby Napa on high alert. The Benicia Police Department, fueled by a "Be On the Look Out" alert from the American Canyon PD, spotted and pursued the vehicle identified with the crimes thanks to their Automated License Plate Reader system. The vehicle was apprehended in a parking lot at the corner of Military and East 2nd, where one suspect tried to flee on foot but was quickly detained. The second suspect’s attempt at escape was also thwarted despite jumping fences to get across East 2nd. A swift establishment of a perimeter led to capture.
According to the Facebook post by the Benicia Police Department, the Napa County Sheriff’s Office attended the scene, and a search of the suspect's vehicle uncovered incriminating evidence—$4,000 in cash, a cellphone, and other personal items—tying them to the thefts. One of the suspects had only recently been released from prison and was on parole, while the other was confirmed by Napa SO to have been directly involved in the burglaries.
Further investigation led to additional charges and details on the individuals involved. Marlene Arellano, 35, and Juan Diazroman, 52, were both charged with crimes including appropriate lost property, possession of unlawful paraphernalia, use of access card account information without consent, and receiving known stolen property. Detailed descriptions were released by the Benicia PD's arrest log, providing the public with their age, height, weight, and even eye color.
