Homless Men Caught Squatting in Empty House

NEWPORT, RI—Two homeless men were arrested for breaking and entering after they were caught squatting in a Merton Road house early Tuesday morning.

Police said they discovered Brian T. Raffa, 50; and Brennan T. Shannon, 46, sleeping inside the house at 57 Menton Road at around 3:50 a.m.

Officers were keeping an extra eye on the property after an earlier report of two suspicious men leaving the house earlier that morning, according to a police report.

As police approached the house, they reportedly heard a loud voice yelling from inside. More officers arrived to provide backup and police entered the house.

Inside, Shannon and Raffa were on the floor in the kitchen. Both seemed intoxicated, police said, and both were taken into custody without incident despite their assertions that they were allowed to be inside thanks to a generous friend they couldn't identify.

Police said it appeared that the squatters entered the house through a window. Officers discovered bottles of alcohol and garbage strewn around the house. It also appeared they had used the toilet even though it was not operational.

Both men were held for arraignment later on Tuesday in Newport District Court.