Jun 25, 2013 2 min read

A Charleroi man was arrested early Tuesday by Charleroi Regional police for allegedly burglarizing a neighbor’s residence on Fallowfield Avenue.

Chet Alan McLaughlin, 44, of 601 Fallowfield Ave., is accused of breaking into the home at 611 Fallowfield about 1:20 a.m.

Police were on foot patrol in the 600 block of Fallowfield and Cherry Way when they heard the sound of glass breaking. When police arrived, one of them saw a man climbing into a window. His upper body was inside the home and his feet were hanging on the outside of the window.

Officer Elijah DeFassio told the intruder, later identified as McLaughlin, to stop. McLaughlin jumped out of the window with his hands in the air. Although the temperature was near 80 degrees, McLaughlin was wearing leather gloves.

McLaughlin claimed he was just being nice and cleaning up the glass that someone had broken at the residence. He also told police that he was concerned about the owner, who was not at home.

At the police station, officers noticed cuts on McLaughlin’s shins. Emergency medical personnel treated him. Police also found a flashlight in his pants pocket.

McLaughlin is awaiting a preliminary hearing in August on a charge of defiant trespass stemming from an incident April 13 in the borough. He is also awaiting trial on a charge of criminal trespass stemming from a March 8 incident, also in the borough.

McLaughlin was arraigned before District Judge Joshua Kanalis on charges of burglary and criminal trespass. He was placed in the Washington County jail on $25,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is set for July 11 before District Judge Larry Hopkins.