Alleged burglar found hiding under laundry; Police dog ousts, bites Austin man who ignored warnings, chief says
Published 7:58 am Thursday, January 25, 2018
A man allegedly found hiding in a basement under a pile of laundry on Tuesday is in Mower County Jail awaiting possible charges of burglary and criminal damage to property.
Jonathan Richard Tracy, 33
According to Austin Police Chief Brian Krueger, Jonathan Richard Tracy, 33, of Austin, was arrested when police were advised at 7:55 p.m. of a possible break-in at a residence in the 1800 block of Third Avenue Northwest. The mother of the home’s owner called police after neighbors called her about the break-in.
Police set up a perimeter around the house and an officer saw a shadow move past a window shade. After police called out three warning with no response, the police dog was sent in and found Tracy hiding in the basement under a pile of laundry.
Tracy was arrested and sent to Mayo Clinic Health System-Austin to have a dog bite injury on his leg treated. He was released from the hospital and taken to Mower County Jail.
Officers found a broken window where Tracy allegedly entered the house.
Tracy told police he did not come out because he didn’t believe they would search the house, according to Krueger. When asked why he didn’t adhere to the K-9 warnings, Tracy allegedly said he didn’t know.
Tracy is known to the homeowner, according to Krueger.
