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Local man, girlfriend, arrested with drug cache

A man who recently relocated to Sonoma Valley, was subsequently relocated to the county jail after a probation search at his residence.

On Dec. 29, at about 2:50 p.m., Sheriff’s deputies went to a residence in the 18000 block of River Road to conduct a probation search. Matthew Coleman, who reportedly moved recently to the Springs, lived in the River Road residence with his girlfriend, Jenny Benzon. Deputies found Coleman at home, but not Benzon, and during the search, discovered heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana and prescription medication.

As a result, the 35-year-old Coleman was arrested on charges of felony possession of marijuana for sale, felony possession of a controlled substance (both the meth and the heroin), felony possession or purchase of narcotics for sale and a felony probation violation. He was transported to the county jail.

Deputies returned to the residence on Jan. 3, at about 8:30 p.m. and arrested Benzon. She was found to be in possession of a large amount of currency in small denominations, along with methamphetamine, methadone, prescription pills and 20 grams of heroin.

Consequently, the 38-year-old Benzon was arrested on charges of felony possession of narcotics for sale, felony possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, and she was also transported to jail. Benzon had reportedly posted bailed at press time, but Coleman was still in jail.

In other incidents reported to Valley law enforcement:

Wednesday, Jan. 2:

10:30 a.m. – New year, motorbike stolen. A resident in the 17000 block of Highway 12 reported that sometime between Dec. 30 and Jan. 2, someone cut a hole in a fence and stole a motorized bicycle valued at $1,000.

Thursday, Jan. 3:

9:30 a.m. – 30 minutes to steal a computer. A visitor at a nonprofit in the 17000 block of Greger Avenue reported that he left a computer in a classroom and, when he returned 30 minutes later, it was gone. The laptop was valued at $1,500.

4:42 p.m. – Dude, where’s my French doors? A resident in the 900 block of Walnut Avenue reported that sometime between Dec. 30 and Jan. 4, someone entered the house and ransacked it. The burglar(s) entered by removing the French doors from their hinges. Since the house had been thoroughly ransacked, the resident wasn’t sure what may have been stolen.

Saturday, Jan. 5:

9:27 a.m. – Paypal not his pal. A resident in the 300 block of First Street East discovered there was unauthorized use on his Paypal account. Someone had purchased more than $1,000 worth of merchandise, including a cellphone and an Apple iPod touch. The merchandise was delivered to an address in Garden Grove (Los Angeles County).

6:24 p.m. – Dude, where’s my truck? A business in the 600 bock of West Napa Street reported that sometime overnight, a 2004 GMC pickup truck that was on consignment, went missing.

Sunday, Jan. 6:

5:15 p.m. – Is that a knife in your pants, and did you just stab someone? Sonoma police officers were sent to the vicinity of Fifth Street West and West Napa Street after receiving a report that a man had been bragging he had just stabbed someone. Officers found three individuals, one of whom was carrying a knife with a 13-inch blade taped to his calf. The knife-carrier, Adam Daly, 28, of Eldridge, was arrested and charged with felony carrying a concealed dirk or dagger and a misdemeanor warrant out of San Mateo County. One of the other individuals, a 24-year-old Eldridge resident, was arrested and charged with public intoxication and a probation violation.

There was no evidence of a stabbing having taken place.

Tuesday, Jan. 8:

1:30 p.m. – A passion for Miata hardtops? For the second time in two weeks, an owner of a Mazda Miata reported that their car’s hardtop had been stolen. This time it was from a Miata parked in the driveway in the 200 block of Serres Drive.

2:28 p.m. – Dude, where are my batteries? A business in the 21000 block of Eighth Street East reported that sometime between Dec. 18 and Jan. 8, someone stole the batteries from five vehicles at the business.