The Chase Stopped In St. Helena: Vallejo Suspect In Armed Mini-Mart Robbery Ends Pursuit In Napa County

NAPA VALLEY, CA — Police said a suspect in an armed robbery broke into a house, took the homeowner's keys, and drove off with the man's pickup truck as a getaway vehicle, leading officers on a high-speed chase from Fairfield into Napa County on Saturday.

The pursuit began Saturday after an early-morning armed robbery at a Fairfield Am/Pm Mini Mart reported at about 8 a.m. The suspect was gone when Fairfield police arrived at the store on Texas Street. They spotted him again at 10:10 a.m. on foot near Fairfield Avenue and Tabor Avenue. He fled, jumping fences into residential backyards, according to a news release from the Fairfield Police Department.

While police shut down the area and deployed drones, the suspect broke into a home and took the truck from the owner. Solano Sheriff’s deputies spotted the truck and, together with Fairfield police, followed the driver, who led them into Suisun, onto Highway 12, and then westbound onto Interstate 80. When the high-speed chase became too dangerous to continue, officials said they issued a “be on the lookout” alert to nearby agencies.

The suspect was spotted again speeding past Flock surveillance cameras in Solano County and then on Highway 128 in St. Helena.

Shortly before noon, Napa County deputies stopped 34-year-old Vallejo resident Kevin Kepford.
Fairfield police took Kepford into custody, seized the firearm, and recovered the truck.
Authorities arrested Kepford on suspicion of armed robbery, home invasion robbery, carjacking, and felony invasion, and took him to the Solano County Jail.