What started as a harrowing report of a missing toddler in Novato yesterday ended with relief, as police say a 3-year-old was kidnapped, driven away in a car, then found unharmed and reunited with their parents. The suspect was booked into Marin County Jail, with bail set at $500,000.
According to KRON4, officers first responded to a disturbance call on Martin Drive, which quickly escalated into a countywide be-on-the-lookout alert for the child and the suspect. The outlet reports detectives identified 39-year-old Benjamin Buckley as the suspect, and an officer later spotted him and the child getting out of a silver Saturn on Center Road around 11 AM.
How Officers Say They Tracked Them Down
The Novato Police Department said officers activated a countywide roadblock protocol and began canvassing neighborhoods immediately after the initial report. That coordinated push, according to the department, helped an on-duty officer locate the vehicle and move in on the suspect. Buckley was taken into custody, and police said the child was not injured.
The Novato Police Department has shared contact details for tips and is asking anyone with surveillance video or other information related to the incident to come forward.
Charges, Bail and Booking
KRON4 reports that Buckley was arrested and booked into Marin County Jail on charges that include kidnapping, child abuse and elder abuse, and that a Marin County judge set his bail at $500,000.
County booking records list recent arrests and bookings for Marin County, and the public log provides the official custody status for those in jail. Interested members of the public can review entries in the Marin County booking log.
What the Law Says
Under California law, kidnapping is a felony and the penalties depend on the circumstances. Simple kidnapping can carry a state prison term of three, five or eight years, while aggravated cases or crimes involving minors can lead to longer sentences and strike-eligible convictions. The statutory details are outlined in California Penal Code §207.
Novato police are urging anyone with information or relevant surveillance footage to contact the department's non-emergency line as investigators continue to build the case. Local prosecutors will decide the next steps as the case moves through court, with initial details on the arrest and recovery provided by the Novato Police Department.
