Oct 2, 2012 1 min read

An Ohio man was arraigned Tuesday on charges of burglary, criminal trespass and simple assault after an Independence Township man found him inside his house last month.

Bruce A. Groce, 26, of Massillon, had been at Washington Hospital for an evaluation after he was found Sept. 22 inside the home of Brian Tohey, 2200 Avella Road.

Tohey told state police he saw a man, later identified as Groce, inside his house smoking a cigarette. When Tohey entered his home, Groce reportedly lunged at him and then punched him.

Tohey and a friend were able to subdue Groce until police arrived. Found in front of where Groce had been sitting were change jars, clothing and other valuables that Tohey told police had been removed from his drawers and closets.

Groce was arraigned before District Judge Ethan Ward and placed in the Washington County jail on $50,000 bond. A preliminary hearing will be held Oct. 11 before Ward.