NEW CASTLE —
A North Hill man has been arrested for allegedly trying to burglarize a Garfield Avenue home.
New Castle police said they found Richard Ralph Cotelesse Jr., 31, of 242 W. Moody Ave., hiding in his basement after the attempted break-in, which occurred around 8:20 p.m. Sunday.
According to police, a couple reported a prowler behind their house in the 100 block. The couple said they saw him walk from their sport utility vehicle toward their garage and the vehicle’s door was open. They told police the man, whom they later identified from a photo array as Cotelesse, tried to get into the garage and as the husband confronted him, he appeared to be under the influence.
Cotelesse then ran and the man tried to chase him but lost him, he told police.
Officers searched the neighborhood for Cotelesse. Meanwhile, they received a call about a prowler in the 100 block of East Leasure Avenue and found a dark hat behind the Leasure Avenue house that matched the couple’s description of the hat Cotelesse had been wearing.
Police, who arrested Cotelesse at his house, said he was in possession of crack-inhaling paraphernalia.
He also was wanted on an outstanding warrant for fraud charges, police said.
He is charged with criminal attempt to commit burglary, criminal trespass, theft from a motor vehicle, loitering or prowling at night and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was arraigned by District Judge Melissa A. Amodie and lodged in the Lawrence County jail on $15,000 bond in connection with the Garfield Avenue incident and $15,000 additional bond on the fraud charges.
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Man arrested in Garfield Avenue burglary
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On The Record: Today’s births, police items and district judge reports
On the Record is a periodic update of public information coming out of the Lawrence County Government Center and local police departments. Look inside for the latest listing of police items and district judge reports.
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