By OLIVIA BERGMEIER
Lead Reporter - Salina Post
Salina Police Department (SPD) officers responded to an early morning food burglary on Monday, April 22, after a man claimed another person's residence and walked away with a plate of food and a television remote.
Just before 7 a.m., SPD Capt. James Feldman said a 61-year-old man returned to his home in the 600 block of Beverly Drive and found the burglar.
"Around 6:40 a.m. that morning, he [the victim] entered his residence and determined that his front door had been forced open," Feldman said. "Upon entering, there was a male, later identified as Marcos Martinez."
Martinez, a 54-year-old Salina resident, caused about $150 in damages to the door. Once the victim confronted him, Martinez claimed that he owned the residence.
Feldman said the victim demanded that Martinez leave, which he initially refused, and so the victim physically pushed him through a door out of the residence.
"Then he [Martinez] reentered the residence through the same door the victim pushed him out of," Feldman said. "The victim forced him out again, and the suspect left. The victim determined that he stole a steak, some white bread, sour cream and chives."
Officers then took his description from the victim and sent it to other officers in the area. They found him walking in the middle of Beverly Drive near the 1500 block of the neighborhood.
"An officer who was responding to the area had the suspect description observed him walking down the middle of the street," Feldman said. "He was walking down the middle of the roadway blocking a school bus from proceeding."
Feldman said the victim confirmed that Martinez was the man who burglarized his apartment, which officers confirmed when they found the victim's television remote with Martinez.
Officers then arrested Martinez and requested charges for burglary, damage to property, theft and battery.
READ MORE: East Salina apartment unit burglarized, suspect arrested