Police: Men forced way in
Two Butler men were arrested Wednesday after they allegedly forced their way into a man’s apartment in the 200 block of Walker Avenue and threatened him, city police said.
Keith J. Lambing, 20, and Devon B. Thompson, 20, both face a list of felony and other charges in the suspected break-in.
Thompson is being held in the Butler County Prison on $30,000 bail. Lambing is free on $30,000 bail.
The investigation began at 11:27 p.m. Tuesday when the alleged victim, Jeremiah Brockman, appeared at the police station to report an altercation he had with the suspects. He told police that Lambing and Thompson live in the apartment above his apartment.
According to court documents, Thompson lives in the second-floor apartment; Lambing has a different address.
Brockman recounted that the defendants had showed up at his apartment “uninvited and physically removed” him from the apartment “stating that he was no longer welcome there.”
Brockman left the station and returned to his home. While there, documents said, he heard people trying to force in his back door. Moments later, the door was kicked in and he saw Lambing and Thompson.
The defendants warned Brockman that if they went to jail, “they could have someone return to finish what they started,” documents said.
Police inspected the victim’s apartment and found that the rear door was broken, They also noticed muddy footprints on the door, indicating someone had forced it in.
Lambing and Thompson were arraigned on felony charges of burglary, trespass and conspiracy to commit trespass, and a misdemeanor charge of terroristic threats. They also were cited for harassment, a summary offense.
