INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis man is being accused of breaking into a homeowner's garage in Fountain Square and staying there for several days.
IMPD was dispatched to investigate a possible disturbance in the 1000 block of East Morris Street, near Virginia Avenue and Shelby Street, Thursday, Aug. 8.
According to court documents, when an officer arrived on scene, the homeowner said he caught an "unknown subject" in his garage and was holding him on the ground.
Court documents say the officer ran to the back of the home where she saw the homeowner holding down the suspect, later identified as Andrew Rodriguez, in the backyard.
Court documents say the officer saw that the detached garage door was open and that there were items scattered around the backyard, including a duffle bag with pants and shoes sticking out, a paintball gun, a sleeping bag and a skateboard.
When the officer spoke with the homeowner, he explained that he hadn't been in his garage for several days. He said he walked in the backyard to check the hot tub when he heard a noise coming form the garage. He was walking toward the garage when Rodriguez walked out.
According to court documents, Rodriguez was wearing a camouflaged ski mask and orange shoes and carrying a paintball gun, which the homeowner believed was a real weapon at the time.
Documents say the homeowner grabbed Rodriguez, pinned him to the ground and held him there while he called 911. The homeowner told police Rodriguez was holding all of the items listed earlier but dropped them when he was pinned to the ground.
The homeowner told police that he believed Rodriguez had been staying in the garage for multiple days. He also said that all of the items Rodriguez had belonged to him, including the orange shoes.
While searching Rodriguez, police said they found a credit card in Rodriguez's pocket with the homeowner's name on the front.
Rodriguez was charged with burglary.
