Benicia Police Arrest Napa Man for Negligent Discharge of Firearm From Vehicle – Child Endangerment

The Benicia Police Department apprehended a man who allegedly was firing a gun from a car traveling on Southampton Road.  The arrest took place early Wednesday  morning.

Police received reports of someone firing a gun from a white vehicle traveling on Southampton Road at around 8:50 p.m. on Tuesday May 8.  Officers who responded to the call searched the area but were unable to find the vehicle. 

Police got a break in the case when a young woman showed up at the police station and reported she was a passenger in the car from which the shots were fired.

“I think she was just doing the right thing,” said Lt. Frank Hartig of the Benicia Police Department.  “She was concerned for her safety and the safety of her child.”

The woman told police both she and the child were in the car, a white 2000 Cadillac, when the shots were fired. 

The 18-year-old woman, a Napa resident, proceeded to tell officers the gun was in the trunk of the car which was parked in front of the station

BPD officers recovered a Ruger .357 caliber revolver from the trunk of the vehicle. At approximately 12:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 9, Benicia officers, with assistance from the Napa Police Department, drove to an apartment in the 700 block of Trancas Street in the City of Napa where they arrested the suspect, Jose F. Nava.  

The Napa PD was real generous to help us out," said Hartig.  "The (Napa) officers  felt it was safe for us to make the contact."

Nava was transported back to the Benicia PD for investigation.  Nava was later transported and booked into the Solano County Jail in Fairfield for allegedly discharging a firearm with gross negligence and child endangerment.

There is no booking photo available at this time.

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