Hunter
04/23/20
A Marion man was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon after allegedly being found in a vacant Iowa City house without permission.
According to police, they were dispatched to the 1000 block of Summit Street at 5:12 pm for reports of a subject entering a residence that was thought to be vacant and for sale. Officers spoke with the listing agent for the property and were told that the residence should be vacant and secured.
The listing agent noted that the for sale sign had been removed and the key entry box was not where it was supposed to be, and requested officers do a check to make sure the residence was empty.
Their investigation found 30-year-old Alexander Torres, whose address is listed as Willow Park Court in Marion, in the upper level. He allegedly told police that he lived there, and that his wife had just purchased the property, neither of which was true. He’s also accused of causing about $500 damage to door handles at the property
Torres was taken into custody but refused to provide his name. However, officers identified him due to previous interactions.
A check of the KCJJ news archives revealed that Torres was accused of trying to break into the Old Capitol in October, claiming he was trying to take control of the building and steal documents. In December, he’s accused of breaking into a Coralville apartment and causing thousands of dollars in damage, and last month was arrested after being found wearing a stolen 1900’s era cloak at Shelter House that he allegedly stole from the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Medical Museum in February. He also reportedly had a 1925 hypodermic needle and pain management kit containing an unknown medication.
Torres was charged in Wednesday’s incident with Trespass causing Injury or Damage greater than $300; a serious misdemeanor punishable by a jail sentence of up to one year in prison.
