By Jim Emerson
SAN LEANDRO — A 70-year-old fugitive wanted for 14 months was arrested on March 29 in
downtown San Leandro.
Caster D. Benjamin, of Oakland, remains in custody at Alameda County Santa Rita Jail ineligible for release on bond.
SLPD officers apprehended Benjamin at 8:51 p.m. on Davis Street, near East 14th Street.,
three blocks away from the San Leandro BART Station.
Benjamin was picked up for an outstanding bench warrant for failure to appear. His present
legal dilemma stems from a prior arrest and charges for grand theft and receiving stolen
property in 2024.
Benjamin was released on his “own recognizance” but he failed to appear
for a court hearing in January 2025.
Benjamin is an habitual offender. Unlike his previous encounters with law enforcement,
he’s being held on a no-bail status, as he is considered a high-risk for recidivism, and
his recent 14-month stint as a fugitive.
His law enforcement history with the Alameda County justice system dates back to the 1980s.
His record is defined by property crimes and violations of court-ordered terms for release from
custody.
In 2018, Benjamin was convicted for commercial burglary and petty theft, after being caught
inside a closed business in downtown Oakland.
In 2014, he was sentenced to two years in state prison for second-degree burglary,
while he was on probation for another conviction, and in 2013, he was arrested for DUI alcohol/drugs for driving under the influence of a
controlled substance with a suspended license.
