Man arrested after allegedly climbing tree to escape after breaking into home – Salisbury Post

SALISBURY – A man was arrested after he climbed a tree to evade arrest following an attempted burglary at a home on Sunday, according to police.

The incident began at about 4:30 a.m. at a home on Peach Orchard Lane when the couple who were home heard a loud banging noise outside and went to investigate, said Chief Deputy Jason Owen, a spokesman for the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office. When they looked outside, the couple noticed a man walking around their property.

The man then reportedly broke into the screened patio area and began banging loudly on the building’s door. Residents then called 911, at which point the man left the patio and climbed a tree to escape, Owens said.

When officers arrived on scene, they reportedly tried to negotiate with the man to come down on his own before eventually calling the fire department, who brought a ladder. During officers’ conversations with the man, he said he didn’t believe they were real, but after several minutes he eventually came down on his own, Owens said.

Officers then reportedly arrested the man, identified as 38-year-old Jose Alfredo Rodriguez.

Rodriguez was charged with aggravated burglary and criminal damage to property. He was lodged in the Rowan County Detention Center and was not given bail, online jail records show.