A man in Lone Tree, Colorado, is facing multiple charges after allegedly striking a vehicle while driving the wrong way and then fleeing the scene. As bodycam footage shows, he was then arrested inside a nearby home, where he was eating some watermelon.
According to a post made by the City of Lone Tree Government account, the incident occurred on Tuesday, June 2. At around 10:00 a.m., a hit-and-run was reported.
Officers with the Lone Tree Police Department (LTPD) responded to Lincoln Avenue. Reportedly, the incident involved a vehicle that was traveling the wrong way.
Witnesses told officers that they had seen the individual behind the wheel striking another vehicle. Then, the driver was accused of fleeing the scene.
Watermelon Breakfast, Footage
Allegedly, the suspect went on to drive to a nearby neighborhood. After parking his car, he entered a residence that belonged to a resident who had no connection with the hit-and-run driver.
The homeowner, a woman, discovered the suspect, a man, inside her house. As per the Lone Tree government, she observed him eating watermelon.
Immediately, the woman contacted the police. Shortly after, LTPD officers responded to the residence and entered it.
Footage shared by the Lone Tree government showed the agents placing the man under arrest. He was seen standing in front of a container and a bowl. Both had watermelon pieces in them.
Arrested and Charged
While investigating the incident, the LTPD determined that the suspect was under the influence. A preliminary breath test came back with a blood alcohol content of 0.122. The state’s legal limit is 0.08.
The man, who has not been publicly identified, is charged with felony trespassing, driving under the influence, careless driving, failure to report an accident, and leaving the scene of an accident. If convicted of all charges, he could face years behind bars, depending on whether the other driver suffered injuries and how serious they are.
“Thank you to the citizens who quickly reported this incident and provided information to officers,” the City of Lone Tree Government said. “Their awareness, along with the rapid response of our officers, helped ensure a swift resolution. We appreciate our community’s continued partnership in helping keep Lone Tree safe.”
The Homeowner’s Perspective
Many users reacted to the case’s specifics in the comments section. One of them was a woman named Chelsea, who claimed that the house shown in the footage belonged to her mother’s best friend.
According to her, the homeowner had just returned to her house and noticed that the suspect was eating at her table. At the time, workers were at the house, so the woman didn’t find him odd. She even offered him a bowl for the watermelon, which was seen in the footage.
However, when the woman asked her husband why he didn’t offer a plate to the suspect, the man was confused. After talking with the other workers, she eventually confirmed that no one knew him and that he was allegedly trespassing. Police arrived shortly after.
Chelsea called it “pretty crazy.”