Alleged drunken burglar arrested
ZELIENOPLE — Police have arrested a borough man after he allegedly broke into a residence to steal a video game console while intoxicated.
Officers responded to reports at 11:50 p.m. Tuesday that two men had broken into a house and that “someone was killed,” a claim that was later proven untrue.
While driving to the scene, police were notified that the suspects had fled on foot.
Police interviewed the resident, Michael Mahilt, who told officers that the men broke into his Pine Street home and stole his PlayStation 4, as he ran to a neighboring house to ask to call 911, documents state. Mahilt's neighbor placed the call to police.
Police began canvassing the scene as more officers arrived to help.
A little after midnight, officer Steven Gilbert reportedly stopped a man matching the description given by Mahilt.
Gilbert said he was investigating a burglary and asked the man, later identified as Kyle Monroe, 26, of Zelienople, where he had been that night.
Monroe was “highly intoxicated” and had an odor of alcohol and slurred speech, police reports said.
Gilbert said the man appeared to want to get away from him, and Gilbert made him sit in the back seat of the police cruiser, documents state.
Monroe told Gilbert that he had a weapon in his waistband, for which he had a license. According to reports, Gilbert patted him down outside the patrol car, and when Monroe started moving around, Gilbert handcuffed him and detained him for the remainder of the investigation.
The officer removed a loaded 9 mm Ruger handgun that was tucked in Monroe's waistband, documents state.
Officers later confirmed that Monroe had a concealed carry permit, and the weapon was registered in his name.
Officers continued canvassing the area, eventually finding the stolen PlayStation at the spot where Gilbert had first spotted Monroe, documents state.
Mahilt identified Monroe as the man he saw leaving his home with the PlayStation, police said.
Officers arrested Monroe on Wednesday. In later interviews, Monroe said he didn't know why he was arrested, despite officers repeatedly explaining the situation, documents state.
Monroe is charged with burglary, theft and public drunkenness. He is in the Butler County Prison on a $25,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is set for Tuesday.
