Deputies from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Valley Substation arrested two men this morning who were in the act of committing a residential burglary. At about 11:00 AM the Sheriff’s Office received a call that a suspicious person was seen in caller’s backyard in the 19100 block of Bay St in El Verano.
When deputies arrived on scene they searched the caller’s backyard but the subject was gone. While searching the backyard their attention was drawn to a commotion at an adjacent house where they discovered broken glass and items stacked outside the residence. Believing this other residence was in the act of being burglarized, deputies surrounded the home which was also located on Bay St.
During that time, a man later identified as Bryce Finch, 28 of Sonoma, stepped out the rear door wearing a plastic mask covering his face with a hooded sweatshirt pulled over his head. Once Finch saw deputies he ran back into the home. Deputies pursued Finch who ran out the front of the residence and across a nearby creek. Deputies chased him to a storage shed located at a housing complex on Railroad Ave where he was attempting to hide. Deputies found him in the shed and, after a brief struggle, Finch was taken into custody and he was in possession of the face mask.
Shortly thereafter, witnesses pointed out that his accomplice, later identified as Brian Webber, 34 of Sonoma was also seen running from the home and entered a yard nearby on Walnut Ave. Deputies found Webber hiding in the backyard on Walnut Ave and took him into custody. Webber had no connection with this home other than it was a hiding place he chose. Webber was in possession of a similar mask and property from the victim’s residence.
Both suspects are currently being transported to the Sonoma County Jail where they will be booked on charges of burglary and conspiracy. Bail has not been set yet.
