Man Arrested In Benicia Gun Possession After Tip From Martinez Woman

A tip to Benicia police from a Martinez woman led to the arrest of a Benicia man after police discovered 59 firearms and ammunition in his home.

A 20-year-old unidentified Martinez woman called Benicia police to say that 49-year-old Ronald Sandy of Benicia was making threatening phone calls to her. The woman and Sandy are aquaintences who had a minor dispute, said Benicia police Lt. Mike Daley.

Police learned that Sandy had a previous conviction for possession of methamphtemine and owned several illegal weapons, including an Uzi semi-assault weapon, Daley said. 

When police arrived at Sandy's O Street home, he was storing weapons in a locker, and told police they belonged to his deceased father.

Police confinscated 46 shotguns and rifles, including a sawed-off shotgun, and 13 handguns, including a 9mm Uzi, and ammunition for the weapons, Daley said.

Sandy was booked in Solano County Jail for being a felon in possession of firearms, possession of a rifle with a barrel less than 18 inches long, possession of an assault weapon, and possession of ammunition by a felon, Daley said.
         
"Although they knew Sandy may have had some firearms in his home, officers were surprised to find such a large cache of both rifles and handguns," Daley said.

Even if Sandy was not a convicted felon, the illegal sawed-off shotgun and Uzi assault weapon would be removed from the community, Daley said.