2 men charged in Santa Rosa home invasion robbery, restrained resident

Two Santa Rosa men were charged Wednesday in Sonoma County Superior Court in connection with a home invasion in which a resident was restrained.

The Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office filed a complaint against the two men, alleging false imprisonment of an elder by violence or deception, robbery, theft and identity theft, according to court records.

One of the gunmen is accused of breaking into a home in the 1700 block of Dorado Court, northwest of the Coddingtown Mall, where he restrained the resident and stole the property, according to Santa Rosa police.

The man took the person’s wallet and some clothing, Sgt. Brandon Matthies told the Press Democrat. Police later recovered most of the stolen items.

Matthies said it was a targeted attack, even though the man and the resident had no previous relationship. Investigators are still investigating the cause of the incident.

Police said there is no current threat to the public.

Home invasions do occur in Santa Rosa, but are often targeted, involving money or drugs, Matthies said. “They’re definitely not random,” he added.

The man fled before the resident could escape and call authorities. Police intervened and searched the area but could not find the suspect.

The Santa Rosa Police Department’s violent crimes investigation team identified the alleged robber, 48-year-old Jason Buck, and his driver, 29-year-old Vallen Burkhauser. Both reside in Santa Rosa.

The two then used the resident’s debit and credit cards at different locations in Sonoma County, Matthies said.

Police tracked Burkhauser to a spot on Santa Rosa Boulevard Tuesday morning and arrested him on suspicion of robbery, two counts of commercial burglary, identity theft and probation violation.

Burkhauser was charged in court Wednesday with false imprisonment of an elder by violence or deception, robbery, theft and identity theft, according to court records. All of them are considered crimes.

Burkhauser has been convicted of multiple misdemeanor charges in Sonoma County since 2018, including petty theft.

Buck was arrested Monday night following a traffic stop near Lotus Court and Barham Boulevard. He is suspected of robbery, kidnapping during robbery, false imprisonment, elder abuse, commercial burglary, identity theft and violating post-release community supervision.

Buck was charged with the same charges as Burkhauser, but with further development.

Buck has a criminal record in Sonoma County dating back to 1995. He was convicted of charges including drug possession, kidnapping, carjacking, and hit-and-run resulting in injury or death.

Buck and Burkhauser were sent to the Sonoma County jail in Santa Rosa on bail of $1.15 million and $201,000, respectively.

Their next hearing will be held on Thursday.

Santa Rosa investigators are still investigating the case and ask any witnesses or individuals with video footage of the incident to contact police via the online tip line at srcity.org/CrimeTips or call the violent crime investigation team at 707-543-3590.

You can reach Staff Writer Madison Smalstig at [email protected]. @madi.smals on X (Twitter).