Howland police arrest man after homeowners catch him in their house

Staff report

HOWLAND

An Athens Drive Southeast man held a gun on a neighbor accused of breaking in to his house and trying to rob him Sunday night.

When Howland police arrived about 11:30 p.m., the 55-year-old homeowner was pointing a gun at Timothy J. Walsh II, 36, also of Athens Drive.

Walsh was sitting in a chair at the couple’s kitchen table and was taken into custody.

Athens Drive is off state Route 169 near Ridge Road.

Walsh said the homeowner and his wife had given him a peanut butter sandwich a few days earlier after he asked them for food and shelter.

Walsh told police that he got to the house about 9:15 p.m. Sunday and knocked at the door about 10 times without anyone answering, then went to an open back window and came in, looking for the homeowners to ask for help again.

Walsh said he got scared when the homeowners woke up, so he hid under the kitchen table. That’s where the homeowners found him.

Police found the home-owner’s wallet near Walsh and found money in Walsh’s wallet that was close to the amount missing from the homeowner’s wallet, police reported.

The homeowner’s wallet had been in the nightstand in the homeowner’s bedroom, he said, adding that he woke up to the sound of someone going through his nightstand.

Walsh also had a screwdriver in his pocket that Walsh said was for his protection.

Police filed charges of burglary and possessing criminal tools against Walsh, who also has an address on Clay Street in Niles. A not-guilty plea was entered for him Monday in Warren Municipal Court, and he is being held in the Trumbull County Jail without eligibility to make bond.