A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a Schuylkill County man accused of breaking into an apartment – while a caregiver and an 11-year-old child hid inside – and stealing a pack of Basic Red 100s cigarettes and two Peach Twisted Teas.
Jordan Rodriguez, 36, of Saint Clair is charged with felony counts of burglary and criminal trespass, two misdemeanor counts of simple assault, misdemeanor counts of theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property, and a summary count of criminal mischief.
Police say they were dispatched to a reported burglary at an apartment on South Second St. shortly after 5 a.m. on June 16.
A witness told police she had locked the front door after entering the residence to care for an 11-year-old. The caregiver reported hearing loud banging and crashing noises coming from outside and then from within the apartment.
Fearing for their safety, the caregiver and the child remained quiet inside a bedroom, police say. The witness told officers she heard rustling and movement before the bedroom door suddenly opened and Rodriguez stood in the doorway.
Rodriguez looked at the caregiver and said “sorry,” then took a pack of Basic Red 100s cigarettes from a television stand and left the apartment, leaving the front door and interior doors open, according to the witness’s statement to police.
The witness showed police text messages she exchanged with Rodriguez confronting him about the incident. Police say Rodriguez replied, “It’s under $10 she sounds dumb stop texting me.”
Upon inspecting the residence, police say they observed an open window, a black shoe print or scuff mark on the bottom of the bedroom door, and the apartment in disarray with items scattered and a framed picture displaced from the wall.
The tenant told police that Rodriguez was not permitted on the premises due to prior issues. She said she had previously texted Rodriguez instructing him not to enter the residence, and that he had attempted to delete the messages, which she was able to recover.
She also reported observing new damage to the apartment and told police that additional items were missing upon her return, including two 24-ounce Peach Twisted Teas.
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