Solano County peace officer memorial vandalized, suspect arrested in Vallejo

A suspect has been arrested and stolen items recovered after a public memorial for fallen law enforcement officers in Solano County was vandalized, authorities said Thursday.

The Solano County Sheriff's Office said investigators served a search warrant on the 200 block of Howard Avenue in Vallejo, where they "located desecrated materials" tied to the theft, which happened at the Peace Officer Memorial in Fairfield.

Authorities identified the suspect as Vallejo resident Joshua Gonzales, 40, who was taken into custody. Further charges are pending, officials said.

In a statement Wednesday, Sheriff Brad DeWall said the memorial outside the main office in Fairfield had been targeted by thieves, with several bronze stars stolen.

"Let me be clear: this was not simple theft, and not random vandalism. These were deliberate, calculated acts at places of honor, remembrance, and public service," DeWall stated.

Several plaques at the adjacent Veterans Memorial were also stolen, DeWall said. He said his office first noticed the memorial was vandalized on Tuesday evening, and on Wednesday, they began the difficult task of notifying the families who have lost loved ones.

Keri Griess' husband, Kirk, was a Solano County California Highway Patrol officer killed in the line of duty by a distracted driver in 2018. His bronze star was one of 21 plaques stolen.

"I was shocked, couldn't believe what I was looking at, all of them gone," Griess said.

She said the memorial is a way for the community and families of the fallen to pay respects for the lives lost.

"It just represents everything that they worked so hard for in their entire careers, and then they were all cut short," she said.

DeWall said plaques were also stolen from the courthouse and the suspect tried to pry one off the county justice center.

"Was it anti-law enforcement? Was it anti-government? Are we being targeted? Or is it greed that people are trying to recover the value of that material?" DeWall said.

The sheriff said the department will investigate the theft using "every available resource." DeWall said detectives reviewed video from several cameras in the area and were in touch with local scrap metal businesses.

The memorial is where Solano County holds its annual peace officers' remembrance ceremony, which is supposed to be held again in just two weeks. Event organizers say they're scrambling to make temporary repairs, and the event will not be cancelled.

Griess said she's planning to attend the ceremony and she's hoping her husband's star is eventually found and put back where it belongs.

"I'm heartbroken, very sad," she said. "I'm in hopes that we can get them replaced or somebody will drop them off somewhere."

The memorial ceremony will be on Wednesday, May 13, beginning at noon, and is open to the public.