By Donna Beth Weilenman
Staff Reporter

The occupants of a Ford Thunderbird missing its rear license plate were arrested Tuesday night and charged with weapons and drug violations, Benicia police Lt. Mike Daley said Wednesday.

Benicia K-9 Officer Damiean Sylvester noticed the Thunderbird was missing its plate and stopped the vehicle on East Fifth Street at the eastbound Interstate 780 on-ramp, Daley said.

Sylvester spoke with the driver and passenger and discovered each had some prescription medicine but no prescriptions, Daley said. The passenger also had a substance police believe is methamphetamine, he said.

When Sylvester examined the car, he found an unloaded .357 revolver, Daley said. That weapon had been stolen from a home in Fairfield, police learned after contacting the gun’s registered owner, Daley said.

Samuel Rowe, 41, of Vacaville, identified as the driver, was charged with possession of a stolen handgun, possession of prescription medication without a prescription, and violation of probation because he was on misdemeanor probation in Solano County for a traffic offense, Daley said.

Steven Templeton, 28, of Suisun City, was charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of prescription medication without a prescription.

Both were booked into Solano County Jail in Fairfield. Bail for Rowe was set at $45,000, and for Templeton $35,000, jail records said.

“Our police officers face dangerous situations on a regular basis,” Daley said. “Officer Sylvester and his backup officers did a very good job to take another firearm off the streets without incident.

“Unfortunately, we find that illegal drugs and firearms are commonly tied together.”

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