Boot-changer arrested for home invasion

HARTFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - A 41-year-old man was arrested for a home invasion after an alert deputy saw him changing his boots during a traffic stop Wednesday afternoon.

Around 8:15 a.m. Wednesday, a resident noticed a suspicious vehicle in the driveway of a nearby relative's home in the 65000 block of 63rd Street in Hartford Township and called the Van Buren County Sheriff's Department. Before deputies arrived, the caller knew the relatives were not there and went to the house and confronted a man who was seen kicking in the door of the residence.

They exchanged words and then the man fled the scene in that vehicle. The caller provided police with a description of the man and the vehicle.

Around 12:30 p.m, Deputy Tony Evans spotted a vehicle matching that description on Red Arrow Highway near 62nd Street and conducted a traffic stop. Four people were inside the vehicle, and as they were being questioned, one of the men was seen putting on a different pair of boots, according to a news release.

Deputy Evans asked that man if he knew anything about the home invasion, and the man denied any involvement.

More deputies were dispatched to the traffic stop and searched the vehicle and noticed the first pair of boots perfectly matched footwear impressions left at the home invasion scene.

The man, who was released from the Van Buren County Jail two days before and on parole in connection with a previous home invasion charge, admitted he broke into this latest residence earlier Wednesday.

The Hartford resident was arrested on home invasion and parole violation charges.