Cops: Drunk Man Broke into Home, Fell Asleep

Police say what first was reported as a possible burglarly ended up being a drunk man smashing a window and falling asleep in the wrong house.

Officer Robert Iozzia responded to a Morris Street residence shortly after 2 a.m. on Feb. 18 on report from the homeowner of a possible burglary, police said. The homeowner was not sure if the person was still in the house at the time, police said.

Police surrounded the property and saw that the window of the door leading into the kitchen was broken, police said. They moved to the front of the house and looked inside, where they saw Ryan Johnson, 24, of Morris Street, asleep on the couch, police said. Iozzia knocked on the door, waking Johnson, who let the officers inside, police said.

When police asked Johnson why he smashed the window and fell asleep on the couch, Johnson, who admitted being drunk, said he actually lived in a different Morris Street house, police said.

And when Iozzia informed Johnson he was in the wrong house, Johnson said meant to go home, police said. But Johnson, who lived next door, said he had lost his key and smashed the window with his right fist to get in, police said.

Johnson sustained minor injuries to his hand while smashing the window but refused medical treatment, police said.

Johnson's roommate went to the house and confirmed that Johnson lived with him, police said. Johnson was arrested and charged with criminal mischief, police said. He was released to his roommate, police said.

This is the second reported incident of 2012 involving a person ending up in the wrong house after a night of apparent heavy drinking. A drunk man entered the wrong house, and was found by the house's tenants later in the morning, police said.

For questions on this report, email john.dunphy@patch.com.