Benicia Police Department detectives recovered $22,000 worth of wine and spirits (shown) during a warrant search of a Fairfield Calif., home on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. Detectives arrested Richard Meredith, 62, (inset) on suspicion of stealing over $300,000 in high value alcohol over a 3-month period. (Benicia Police Department via Bay City News)

A Fairfield man was arrested by Benicia officers on suspicion of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of high-value alcoholic beverages, according to police.  

Benicia detectives began in March to investigate an employee suspected of stealing wine and other spirits from his jobsite, police said Wednesday.

Surveillance footage allegedly showed the suspect taking the booze. Investigators believe that over three months, the suspect had stolen over $300,000 worth of high-value alcohol.  

On Tuesday, officers went to Fairfield to arrest Richard Meredith, 62, in the 1100 block of Broadway. A search of his residence allegedly uncovered $22,000 worth of wine and spirits belonging to the business.  

Meredith was booked into the Solano County Jail on suspicion of second-degree burglary, grand theft, embezzlement and being a prohibited person in possession of ammunition.  

As of Wednesday, Meredith was still in custody, held on $60,000 bail.

Katy St. Clair got her start in journalism by working in the classifieds department at the East Bay Express during the height of alt weeklies, then sweet talked her way into becoming staff writer, submissions editor, and music editor. She has been a columnist in the East Bay Express, SF Weekly, and the San Francisco Examiner. Starting in 2015, she begrudgingly scaled the inverted pyramid at dailies such as the Vallejo Times-Herald, The Vacaville Reporter, and the Daily Republic. She has her own independent news site and blog that covers the delightfully dysfunctional town of Vallejo, California, where she also collaborates with the investigative team at Open Vallejo. A passionate advocate for people with developmental disabilities, she serves on both the Board of the Arc of Solano and the Arc of California. She lives in Vallejo.