Two Arrested on Weapons Charge

Police arrested two people on Thursday, December 23 at about 4:30 p.m. on weapons charges.  The duo was were driving on Chelsea Hills Drive when they were stopped shortly after leaving the Southampton Shopping Center.

Gordon Hall of Richmond and Jane French of Vallejo, both 46, were parked in front of the when Sgt. John Daley noticed their Toyota Camry was backed into the parking stall.

A routine registration check indicated the car was from west Contra Costa County.   As the vehicle departed the shopping center, Daley noticed the rear plate was different than the front. A registration check of the mismatched plate showed the car was from Vallejo with expired registration.

French was driving when Daley pulled the couple over. She provided documentation proving ownership of the vehicle.

Officer Kirk Kefferwho assisted Daley in a consent and parole search of the vehicle, found a sawed-off shotgun in the trunk of the vehicle.  

Both subjects were arrested and booked into the Solano County Jail in Fairfield.  

Hall, who is on parole for auto theft, was charged on a parole violation; possession of short-barrel shotgun (less than 18") "sawed-off shotgun" and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

French was charged with possession of a sawed-off shotgun.

"We're still not sure what they were doing in the shopping center," Benicia Police Lt. Bob Oettinger said. "The alert sergeant may have prevented another crime from occurring."