Update: Albany man arrested on sex crime, gun charges

Update, 3 p.m. Authorities have now confirmed that the man who was arrested in Albany on Thursday morning was 59-year-old Benny Fong.

Fong was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and brandishing a firearm, Albany police said.

Authorities said they recovered a gun during their search warrant operation in the 1000 block of Talbot Avenue.

"Officers had reason to believe the suspect was armed with a firearm," APD said in a prepared statement. "Officers took added precautions to ensure the safety of our surrounding community and officers during the warrant service."

Authorities said Fong and the victim knew each other. According to public records, Fong lives on the block where the arrest took place.

"This was an isolated incident with no known threat to our community," police said.

According to booking records, Fong was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping, torture, false imprisonment with violence, rape and other serious offenses.

He is being held without bail. Arraignment is set for Monday at Wiley Manuel Courthouse in Oakland.

Update, 12:30 p.m. Police arrested a man during a search warrant operation in Albany on Thursday morning, according to authorities and public records.

Neighbors who saw police on the block at about 6:30 a.m. said there were about a dozen officers, including some in unmarked units who may have been investigators from another agency.

(Albany Scanner later determined that no other law enforcement agencies were involved.)

Residents said they heard a car speeding down the block and saw flashing emergency lights spilling into their bedroom window.

When they looked outside, they saw police put an older man in handcuffs and take him away.

Officers, some with long guns aimed at a house or holding shields, took up a tactical position and began ordering people to come outside.

A second man came out, was handcuffed and was also taken away in a police vehicle, a neighbor said.

As of publication time, police had confirmed that one man was in custody "at this time."

Neighbors said officers were searching through trash cans and vehicles at the home. They removed computers and paperwork from the house, along with items in bags.

Neighbors said the operation seemed to go smoothly, without any resistance.

Neighbors also expressed concern for the family at the home where the arrest took place, describing them as longtime residents.

Original story: Albany police officers served a search warrant in the 1000 block of Talbot Avenue on Thursday morning.

As of publication time, the city had not shared the reason for the search.

An Albany Scanner reader saw "a dozen police, some with long guns," detain two people at about 6:30 a.m. on Talbot between Marin Avenue and Dartmouth Street.

City spokesman Brennen Brown confirmed police had served a search warrant, saying only: "This remains an active investigation with no threat to our surrounding community."

Brown said more information would be shared later.

Albany Scanner has asked for additional details.

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