Two Burglary Suspects Arrested; One Was Wanted on Charges of Sex With a Minor

Two men were arrested in Benicia Tuesday morning and admitted to stealing from parked cars, police say.

The suspects, 19-year-old Benicia resident Robert Gregory West, Jr., and 23-year-old transient Ryan David Dees, were reported by a resident who saw them walking in the 900 block of West L St. around 6:20 a.m. and thought they looked suspicious, according to a press release.

Benicia Police say when officers arrived, both men fled. West was caught after a short chase, and found with drug paraphernalia, the press release states. Police set up a perimeter and found Dees a short while later.

During the chase, both men dropped stolen credit cards "and other personal items," according to police. 

"It was determined the items were stolen from a vehicle on the 1100 block of West L Street," the police press release stated. "A second victim called from the 1100 block of West 13th and advised he had property stolen during the night from his vehicle. Both victimized vehicles were unlocked."

Officers found items from the second car nearby, mixed in with items stolen from the first car.

"Both suspects provided statements admitting their involvement in the property crimes," the department said. 

In addition to the theft charges, West was wanted on charges stemming from a recent investigation.

"A minor female victim made allegations that Robert West had unlawful sex with her," the police department said. "It was learned the unlawful sexual assaults began in October of 2012 and continued through February of this year."

Police declined to provide the age of the victim, but West faces charges of molesting a child younger than 14. He also faces various other charges of sex with a minor and sexual battery. Both suspects face charges of grand theft, possessing stolen property and drug violations. Dees is also charged with violating his probation.

They were booked into the Solano County Jail.

A police spokesman praised the actions of the resident who reported the men Tuesday morning.

"Once again, this is a great example of a Benicia citizen seeing something suspicious and immediately calling the police to report it," the press release quoted Police Lt. Frank Hartig as saying. "The alert citizen's immediate action assisted the Benicia Police Department in arresting two subjects that had been wandering the neighborhood stealing from unlocked vehicles. This is another reminder for all citizens to keep valuables out of sight and or locked in the trunk and to remember to secure all doors and windows to their vehicles at all times." 

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