PTC family safe after late night home invasion

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UPDATED Thursday 5:46 p.m. — A home invasion in Peachtree City early Thursday morning resulted in no harm to a family living in the center of the Golfview subdivision off Flat Creek Road. Peachtree City Police have arrested a College Park man in connection to the crime.

Twenty-two-year-old Marlon D. Jones, College Park, has been charged with burglary and loitering and prowling in connection to the crime, according to Peachtree City Police spokesperson Rosanna Dove, whose statement follows below.

The home invasion occurred in the center of the Golfview subdivision off Flat Creek Road at approximately 4 a.m., according to homeowner Alvaro Castillo.
Castillo said his family was asleep at the time of the incident. Castillo and his wife have three young children, ages 4, 1 and 2 months.

Castillo said his wife was awakened to a noise in the house. He got up and headed toward the home’s living area, thinking it might be the 4 year-old. But Castillo checked her room first and found her sleeping. He then gathered the children into a bedroom.

“I closed the door and turned on the light and called 911 but they didn’t leave,” Castillo said of the intruders, at least two of them, that were in his home. “I think they were inside at least 20 minutes.”

Castillo said police arrived within 10 minutes. Though uncertain because he was in the bedroom, Castillo said the intruders left either before police arrived or as they arrived.

Castillo said that items taken from the home included laptop computers, DVDs, a Playstation, a video recorder, various containers of alcoholic beverages, his wallet and family keep-sakes.

He said some of the items were found on a next door neighbor’s driveway after apparently having been dropped as an intruder fled. Castillo added that an intruder’s cell phone battery was found in family’s living room.

Castillo said he was told that one or more of the intruders claimed they were in Peachtree City to visit a McIntosh High School girl who lives in the neighborhood.

The Castillo family moved to Peachtree City from Virginia in August 2010.

The Peachtree City Police Department released the following statement late Thursday afternoon:

On February 24, 2011 at approximately 4:45 a.m., the residents were wakened to unusual noises coming from their basement.

The resident told communications officers that when the light was turned on in the bedroom, the noises in the basement stopped.

Officers responded to the home in just under 2 minutes from the time the call was dispatched.

The home was cleared to ensure that no subjects were located in the residence and the homeowners were safe.

A perimeter around the area was established, and an on-duty Fayette County Sheriff’s Office K9 officer responded to the location to assist in tracking the offender.

While searching the area, officers located a subject who was standing on Pinemount Drive.

Marlon D. Jones, 22, of Yates Road., College Park, Ga., was taken into custody and questioned.

Jones admitted to entering the home, which he believed to be vacant. While in the home, he took an X-Box, a computer, a laser pointer, and liquor.

With the exception of the laser pointer that was in Jones’ possession, all stolen items were located under a tree by officers who were searching the area.

Jones is currently located at the Fayette County Jail. Warrants for Jones are currently pending for loitering and prowling and burglary.