By Tim Ruzek
Post-Bulletin, Austin MN
A 34-year-old man is accused of breaking into a vacant Austin apartment Monday night while holding a knife, which someone took away after confronting him.
Jason Michael DePaul of rural Austin appeared Wednesday in Mower District Court on two counts of first-degree burglary and one count of second-degree burglary, all felonies, according to records. One of the first-degree counts relates to possession of a dangerous weapon.
Judge Fred Wellmann set bail for DePaul at $75,000 without conditions or $25,000 with conditions.
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According to the criminal complaint, Austin police responded about 10:45 p.m. on a report of a man who entered a vacant apartment in the 100 block of Third Avenue Northeast.
A 25-year-old man, who had DePaul’s knife, met police at the apartment building, where DePaul remained, the complaint says.
"I have nowhere else to go," the complaint says DePaul told police repeatedly.
DePaul said he knew a woman who lived in the apartment building and wanted to see if she’d let him stay with her, the complaint says.
Police found the vacant apartment’s door frame broken from what they believe was an attempt to force it open.
The 25-year-old man had confronted DePaul in that unit after hearing noise coming from it. The man put DePaul in a headlock, grabbed one of DePaul’s arms and walked DePaul down the stairs.
He then noticed DePaul was holding a knife so he grabbed the weapon. DePaul then ran back up to the apartment.
After being taken to jail, DePaul allegedly became belligerent and irrational.
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In August 2007, DePaul was sentenced to serve a 15-month prison term for violating his probation on a felony conviction of forgery.
DePaul returns to court Nov. 13.
