BOCA RATON – A quick thinking resident got a piece of someone who broke into his house around 10:30 a.m. June 15.
The resident called 911 after he returned home from grocery shopping and found his front door open and a man inside his home, a police report says. At first they struggled, police said, but it stopped when the suspect told the victim he had a gun.
The suspect then took off towards the front door, but not before the homeowner grabbed his shirt and tore a piece of it off.
While maintaining a perimeter, officers received information that the suspect jumped a wall near NE 15th Terrace and was seen running through the parking lot of a gas station toward the Boca Inn.
At this time, a Boca Raton Police K-9 team also tracked him to the Boca Inn.
Police said officers saw two males walking through the parking lot and stopped to question them. One identified himself as Michael Velez, 29, who listed no permanent address. While checking the pair, police found Velez had an outstanding warrant for loitering and prowling from Palm Beach County.
According to a report, the victim arrived at the scene and identified Velez as the man who broke into his home. In the motel room, police found a number of checkbooks and a keepsake coin belonging to the victim.
Detectives also found a torn blue tank top on the bed. Investigators matched the torn shirt with the piece recovered from the victim.
Velez was charged with burglary of an occupied dwelling/structure with assault and petty theft for stealing the checkbooks and the coin.
Anyone with any information is asked to call Detective Yvette Ortiz at 561-620-6118 or Crime Stoppers at 800-458-TIPS.