A Morgan Hill resident was surprised to find a strange man in
her home when she returned early Saturday morning.
A Morgan Hill resident was surprised to find a strange man in her home when she returned early Saturday morning.
The female resident of a San Pedro Avenue residence returned home at approximately 1am to find her electricity off and her dog growling.
She lit a candle and walked back to her bedroom closet, where she saw a pile of blankets and clothes on the floor. Looking closer, she discovered a human hand sticking out from the pile.
The resident ran out of the house to contact a neighbor, who called police. When Morgan Hill Police officers arrived, they began a room-to-room search of the house.
They found the circuit breakers in the power control panel had been shut off.
When they arrived in the bedroom, officers found a man in the bed, pretending to be asleep, MHPD Lt. Joe Sampson said.
“He had to know she (the victim) was going to leave and call for help,” Sampson said Monday.
“He hadn’t bundled up any property, disconnected television or other equipment. He didn’t give any statement of his motives during his arrest; it makes us wonder if he was there to commit another type of crime.”
Officers ordered Joseph Castro, 24, a Morgan Hill transient, to get out of the bed and down on the floor. He failed to do so, Sampson said. A struggle ensued, and Castro was arrested and taken to the police station to be interviewed.
The victim did not know Castro, Sampson said. No one was injured in the incident.
Sampson said Castro was later taken to county jail on charges of possession of methamphetamine, being under the influence of methamphetamine and interruption of a public utility.
He also had a $10,000 bench warrant for a parole violation.
“The DA will likely look at the burglary charge,” Sampson said. “This isn’t a situation where it was a crime of opportunity. The suspect had a past history.”
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. She can be reached by e-mail at md****@*************es.com or phoning (408) 779-4106 Ext. 202.
