Man Found Living in Woods Behind Rec Center: Police Blotter

A fire in a wooded area behind the Ehrnfelt Recreation Center May 3 led officials to discover someone has been living back there.

Firefighters were called to smoke on the east side of the building about 9:40 a.m. and reported to police that there was someone living there.

Officers located a man walking to the area, who admitted to having a fort and cooking. The said he believed he had gotten permission to camp there.

He agreed to gather up his belongings and move on. 

He didn't go too quickly, though. About 4:40 p.m. the same day, a witness reported a homeless man washing his clothes in the creek near the rec center. He was again asked to go.

At 7:30 p.m., a woman and her kids walking in the Backyard Preserve near the rec center saw a man sleeping on a cot, with laundry hanging around him.

Police called the Veterans Administration to try to get help for the man, but he is not registered with the agency. 

Vandalism in Meadowood

A number of signs, lamp posts and fences in the Meadowood area were spray painted the night of May 4, reports said.

A resident on Brookstone Way reported a black spot painted on her lamp post, and also pointed out some signs and the fence at Surrarrer School with paint.

Officers found fences on Beechcreek and Pebblebrook painted, as well as some other lamp posts on both streets.

Show's Over

Neighbors complained about a man playing drums in his garage on Drake Road about 5:15 p.m. May 5.

Police found the drums were "loud and excessive," a report said. The man said he would stop for the night and would later move his drums into the house.

Pickpocket at the Mall?

A man told police someone took a gold coin and an opal valued at $6,000 out of his pants pocket pocket while he was at SouthPark Mall April 27.

The man said the items were in a leather case attached to a chain. He said he was in several stores that day.