Lakeville Man Allegedly Burglarized Ex's Home Before Setting it Ablaze

A Lakeville man faces burglary and arson charges and could face additional felonies after a bizarre incident involving an ex-girlfriend on May 12.

Eric Eugene Contonikolas, 31, is accused of burglarizing his ex-girlfriend's Lakeville home, then trying to start the stove on fire after the woman confronted him, according to a criminal complaint. When arrived, Contonikolas became belligerent and in an ensuing scuffle, an officer reported being hurt.

Contonikolas is still in Dakota County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bond and his next court hearing is at 9 a.m. on June 5 in Hastings.

According to the complaint, Contonikolas told police he entered the home by unlocking the front door with a credit card. He broke in, he said, to put out the fire.

But a witness and the homeowner told police a different story, according to the complaint.

The woman said she and Contonikolas argued while at her mother’s house prior to the fire. She also insisted that nothing had been placed on the stove recently, and the knobs for the stove were removed as a child-safety precaution.

Officers found all but one knob on the counter next to the the stove, but one had been replaced and was set to the “on” position at a 45-degree angle, the complaint said.

In addition, a witness told police he saw Contonikolas enter the home and then leave a short time later carrying a backpack and two white garbage bags filled with items. A short time later, the witness told police he saw smoke coming from the home.

The complaint said Contonikolas acknowledged to police he had taken items, but said it was his personal property he was retrieving from his former girlfriend.

As for the fire, Contonikolas told police he did not call 911 or notify neighbors of the fire, but instead tried to put the blaze out by himself with a “cup.”

The complaint said when police first arrived, Contonikolas and the woman were fighting. When she told police he was the one who started the fire, he told officers to "cuff him," and he began the scuffle. During the tussle, one officer fell to the ground and complained of pain to the right side of his body. The other officer was cut on his hand.

As for the home, the fire was contained to the kitchen area near the stove, the criminal complaint said. There was light to heavy smoke damage.

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