4 Arrested On Suspicion Of Stealing Fiber Optic Cables In Benicia

Four men were arrested in Benicia after police allegedly found them with stolen fiber optic cables, the department said Saturday.

On Friday, Benicia officers on patrol in the early morning saw a pickup truck parked along Bayshore Road with a door open and "freshly cut" fiber optic cable laying nearby, the department said.

Police detained one man and found two others hiding in the brush; a fourth man fled the scene.

California Highway Patrol air support and the Solano County Sheriff's Office were called for assistance and the fourth suspect was located on the Valero refinery property.

Arrested were Jose Luis Ortizavalos, 38, Luis Angel Lara, 26, Cesar Adrian Olvera-Arvizu, 36, and Franklin Rafael Morales-Gomez, 39, all on crimes ranging from allegations of grand theft, larceny, vandalism, conspiracy and being in possession of burglary tools and carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle.

At the site of the theft, officers allegedly located a firearm, drug paraphernalia, and multiple burglary tools, including a Sawzall that was used to cut the fiberoptic lines.

AT&T estimates the damage and loss to exceed $100,000, the department said.

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