A 22-year-old homeless man was arrested by Belleview police after he allegedly broke into a local residence.
On August 22, at around 10:35 a.m., a Belleview Police Department officer responded to a home located on SE Robinson Road in reference to a possible burglary incident.
Upon arrival, the officer made contact with a female reportee, and she advised that she knows the property’s owner who was currently out of town. The reportee stated that she checked on the home the previous month and all doors were locked, according to the BPD report.
According to the reportee’s statement, she stopped by the residence on August 22, shortly before the arrival of the officer, and observed that the front door was open. She stated that she saw items inside the home that were “scattered all over the ground.”
After speaking with the reportee, two BPD officers entered the residence and heard a male voice say, “I’m over here.” The officers located the man, identified in the report as Cory Austin Pierce, in a nearby room.
Pierce was detained in handcuffs and escorted out of the residence. When asked if he had any weapons in his possession, he told the officers that he had a pocketknife, though he advised that he “left it in the house,” according to the BPD report.
Pierce was placed under arrest and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held on $25,000 bond. He is facing a felony charge for armed burglary of a dwelling, structure, or conveyance.
Court records show that a public defender has been appointed for Pierce, and he entered a not guilty plea on August 25. He is scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, September 26.