Clecy Thompson

A 27-year-old city man was arrested after Butler police allegedly caught him in the act of burglarizing his ex-girlfriend’s house in the 500 block of Virginia Avenue.

Clecy E. Thompson had already loaded two large televisions sets and other loot into a sport utility vehicle and apparently was trying for more when officers got there about 2:45 a.m. Sunday, police said.

Moments earlier, a call from the victim’s 11-year-old son who was in the house — and frightened — helped alert authorities, according to court documents. The suspect ran out the back of the house and made his getaway from chasing officers. But he was subsequently arrested.

District Judge Sue Haggerty arraigned the defendant on felony charges of burglary and theft, and misdemeanor charges of defiant trespass and loitering and prowling at night.

He remains in the Butler County Prison on $50,000 bail while awaiting a preliminary hearing Jan. 17.

Police said they were called to Kari Summerville’s house for an apparent burglary in progress. Her son and another 11-year-old boy were alone inside. Summerville’s son recognized Thompson, his mother’s former boyfriend, as the intruder, documents said. He texted his mother, who was at work.

The boy later called 911 after hearing noise downstairs and becoming scared.

Police said they could see “the shadow of a person” through the curtain in one of the downstairs rooms. Seconds later, officers heard a “loud crash” from the rear of the house.

They spotted a man, later identified as Thompson, running and jumping a fence into a neighbor’s back yard. Police said he climbed other fences including one that surrounds Butler Area Sewer Authority property at the end of Negley Avenue.

Police chased after and later searched for the suspect but could not find him.

Back at the house, documents said, police found the SUV the defendant had driven there. The vehicle is owned by his current girlfriend. In it, police said, were some items Thompson had allegedly taken from Summerville’s house, including 55-inch and 46-inch flat-screen TVs.

Police also accused the defendant of stealing surveillance equipment at the house. And he apparently planned to take more property, which he had rummaged through, before police got there, documents said. In a pile in the living room, police found a video game system and accessories.