GreeneStreets

View Original

Homeless man arrested for trespassing

A homeless man was arrested this week for allegedly continuing to trespass at a motel property in Jasonville.

Dustin Eugene Watts

Dustin Eugene Watts, 40, who was listed as homeless when booked into jail, was arrested by Sgt. Brian Pilant of the Jasonville Police Department on Tuesday, April 27.

Two criminal cases have been filed against Watts, both for criminal trespassing, a Class A misdemeanor.

Back on March 12, Watts was trespassed from the Shakamak Motel property in Jasonville. The notice was served to Watts by JPD Officer Skylar Scott and Watts signed a form saying he understood if he returned to the property, he could be arrested for trespassing.

In mid-April, JPD Officer Andrew Duguay responded to a report that Watts had been back on the property. Security footage showed Watts walking up stairs and knocking on a motel room door, then walking back down and leaving.

This past Tuesday, April 27, Sgt. Pilant responded to another report that Watts was back on the property and was in one of the motel rooms.

When Sgt. Pilant knocked on the motel room door, a woman answered the door and asked if someone had called the police on them and why, because they had not been arguing. Sgt. Pilant said a man who was on the bed, trying to act like he was asleep, sat up and agreed they had not been arguing. The woman said nobody was there but the two of them.

When Sgt. Pilant asked the woman to open the bathroom door, Watts allegedly stuck his head out and Sgt. Pilant motioned for him to come outside. He did and was taken into custody.

Watts was booked into the Greene County Jail at 8:49 p.m. He appeared in court for initial hearings in both cases yesterday afternoon.

Watts is being held on a bond of $1,000 surety or ten percent cash but as of Friday afternoon, he’s still in jail.