‘Armed Santa’ joins police in Bay Area tree, wreath theft arrest

An armed Santa Claus joined American Canyon police as they arrested two Vallejo residents last week accused of stealing 24 Christmas trees and two crates of wreaths from a local Safeway.

Joshua Gonzales, 39, and Kayla Daniels, 29, were taken into custody at their home Thursday, according to a Dec. 5 Facebook post from police that included video of the unusual holiday-themed arrest.

Surveillance footage showed the pair loading the trees and wreaths into a pickup on Nov. 27, according to police. Safeway employees reported the theft Dec. 1 and estimated the loss at nearly $2,400, police said.

Gonzales and Daniels were arrested on suspicion of grand theft and conspiracy. All of the trees and wreaths were recovered and returned to the store. As of Wednesday, neither suspect remained in custody and the Napa County District Attorney’s Office had not filed charges.

You can reach Staff Writer Colin Atagi at colin.atagi@pressdemocrat.com.

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