LEWISTON – A Knox Street man was indicted Tuesday, a day after he was allegedly caught burglarizing an East Avenue home.
Andrew Michaud, 41, of 50 Knox St., was charged with burglary and theft, accused of breaking into a woman’s home early Monday morning. He was one of 44 people indicted Tuesday by the Androscoggin County grand jury.
Michaud was arrested about 9 a.m. Monday after police surrounded the house on East Avenue after the woman who lives there reported there was a stranger inside.
Police believe Michaud had been watching the woman’s home for several days, learning when she would be away and when she would be at home.
The woman left her home early Monday morning, but returned a short time later after running some errands, police said.
About 8:40 a.m., she came home and spotted an unfamiliar bicycle in the yard, police said. She also noticed that the screen door to a breezeway was open and that another door appeared to have been kicked in.
The woman retreated to her car and drove to a safe location, police said. She then called for help from a cellular phone.
“She did the right thing,” said Lewiston Deputy Police Chief Michael Bussiere. “She immediately called 911.”
More than a half dozen police officers swarmed on the scene and surrounded the house. A short time later, Officer David Brule spotted a man opening a second story window. Police say Michaud appeared to be attempting an escape through the window when he spotted the officers on the ground below.
“He decided it wasn’t a good idea,” Bussiere said. “He gave himself up.”
Officers then entered the house and arrested Michaud. He was being held at the Androscoggin County Jail on $10,000 cash bail.
According to the indictment, Michaud was attempting to steal collectible coins and a key from the home when he was caught.
Bussiere said other people should take a lesson from the woman who was victimized on Monday. She did the correct thing, the deputy chief said, by calling police immediately rather than approaching the stranger by herself.
“Do not confront these people,” Bussiere said. “These people can be desperate.”
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