Police Nab Novato Residents in Benicia Burglary

Benicia police arrested two Novato residents after responding to an alarm at a Getty Court business late Sunday. One of the suspects, Jeffery Dalton, was on probation for burglary.

According to a police news release, Dalton, 41, and Laura Leppanen, 40, were booked into the Solano County Jail in Fairfield on charges of burglary. In addition, Dalton was arrested on suspicion of possession of drug paraphernalia. 

Besides the burglary, Leppanen was arrested on suspicion of felony possession of methamphetamine. 

According to police, when officers responded to the alarm at Cole Janitorial Supply on the 500 block of Getty Court they saw a man, later identified as Dalton, walking near the building but he quickly disappeared.

After asking for assistance from Solano County Sheriff's Office Canine Unit, officers heard noises from bushes near the building, which turned out to be Leppanen. He tried to flee but then surrendered quietly.

Benicia has two canine units but neither was on duty Sunday night. “To have a canine unit on every shift we’d probably need four or five teams,” said Lt. Mike Daley of the Benicia Police Department.

“Last night we were able to team up with the sheriff’s office and use its team,” said Daley.  “Sometimes the sheriff’s office or Vallejo police will call us when they need a canine team.”

The sheriff’s canine unit searched the area around the building but didn’t find anyone. However, Dalton was spotted and apprehended by Benicia police officer Mitchell Alvarez.

Booking photos of Dalton and Leppanen have not been released.

Police have not determined why the pair targeted that Industrial Park business.