CHARLOTTE — First, he knocked on the front door, then video shows him going around the house just before allegedly trying to break in.
Police say Joel Hernandez Velazquez tried to enter a home through a side window. What he didn’t know was the homeowner was home.
It happened in the middle of the day on Sunday, Oct. 11.
“All I saw was the man’s foot and head in my dining room and my husband hitting him to try to get him out,” Ella Brewington said.
The couple has lived in north Charlotte in the home on Twin Brook Drive for more than 13 years. Ella described the moment as extremely traumatic, especially since her granddaughter was inside the home, but she says that fortunately she was on the second floor. While all this was happening, she called the police.
“The only thing on my mind was not letting him in,” her husband said.
They claim they managed to prevent Hernandez Velazquez from entering the home.
But according to the couple, he tried to return. A few minutes later, the police arrived.
They were told that the man was working at a neighboring house, and that’s where they arrested him.
“He was brought to this neighborhood by a contractor, and as I said on Nextdoor, be mindful of who you hire and who you look for to do cheap jobs,” Ella said.
Channel 9’s partners at Telemundo contacted the alleged contractor but haven’t received a response yet.
The home where the Brewingtons claim the contractor was working sits just a few feet away on the same sidewalk.
Court documents say Hernandez Velazquez faces charges of attempted trespassing and possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to police, he had a crack pipe in his pocket at the time of his arrest and admitted to using drugs.
His bond was set at $10,000, and ICE requested a hold on him as well.
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