Police Officer Injured During Arrest of Theft Suspect

A Novato police officer suffered a laceration to the head early Tuesday while apprehending a suspect in a copper wire theft in Bel Marin Keys, police said.

On officer, who was not mentioned by name by the Novato Police Department, was treated for the cut and was able to return to duty, acting Lt. Jennifer Welch said.

Welch said the alarm at a Pacific Gas and Electric substation went off at 2:50 a.m. and a PG&E security employee made an emergency call that two men were within the secured area at 127 Hamilton Drive. KTVU TV showed footage of a sliced chain-link fence and the men were suspected of stealing copper wire or conduits, the station reported.

"We are still trying to work with PG&E about what might have been moved from the property and what was cut," Welch said. "When the suspects fled, they didn't have anything in their hands.

A Novato officer spotted a suspect leaving a building on the property and chased the suspect, and both were injured during a scuffle, Welch said. Daniel Ray Carter, 43, of San Francisco was taken into custody at 3:14 a.m.

Novato police, Marin County Sheriff's deputies, California Highway Patrol officers and Mill Valley police officers searched several hours for the second suspect, who had also fled on foot. Danny Ray Owens, a San Pablo resident who turned 47 on Monday, was arrested at about 5:30 a.m. while hiding nearby under a car cover, Welch said.

Both suspects were arrested and face charges of burglary, possession of burglary tools, resisting arrest, conspiracy and vandalism.

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