Dispatch received a call at 0247 HRS from resident Harold Beckett reporting a burglary in progress at his residence. Beckett stated a suspect was currently restrained in his kitchen and requested officers respond, though he indicated no immediate danger to himself or others.
Upon arrival, responding officer made contact with Beckett at the front door. Beckett stated he had installed a deterrent device approximately two weeks prior along a rear kitchen window, citing repeated entry by a raccoon through a damaged window seal. The device consisted of a tripwire connected to a suspended container of dish soap and water, positioned above the point of entry, and a secondary battery-operated air horn wired to the same trigger mechanism.
Beckett stated he was awoken by the air horn at approximately 0240 HRS and initially believed the raccoon had returned. Upon entering the kitchen, he located an adult male, later identified as Dwayne Castillo, 34, of no fixed address, entangled in the tripwire and bungee cording used to suspend the container. Castillo was saturated with the container’s contents and had not freed himself from the mechanism prior to officer arrival.
Castillo was found to be in possession of a duffel bag containing assorted kitchen electronics, later confirmed by Beckett as belonging to the residence. Castillo did not resist and was cooperative throughout contact, though he requested on multiple occasions that officers “not put the soap thing in the report.”
Beckett stated that the point of entry used by Castillo was the same damaged window seal previously accessed by the raccoon, and that the device had functioned as designed, though not against its originally intended target. Beckett was advised to consider a more permanent repair to the window in place of the current deterrent method. Beckett declined, stating the device had “proven itself” and he intended to leave it in place.
Castillo was treated at the scene for minor abrasions consistent with the restraint mechanism and transported without further incident. The recovered electronics were returned to Beckett.
CLOSING NOTE
The raccoon has not been apprehended and remains at large.