WATERVILLE — An Elm Street man was arrested today after police said he broke into a woman’s home, ransacked her kitchen and covered himself in soap.
Edwell Gethers, 34, of Elm Street, was arrested after he climbed through an open window into a house on Chaplin Street, according to Deputy Chief Charles Rumsey. The woman woke to find Gethers in her room shirtless and covered in soap from her bathroom.
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The woman told police that she did not know Gethers.
Rumsey said Gethers made a mess in the victim’s kitchen, emptying her spice rack and throwing the spice jars through the window.
“He also emptied a jar of pickles on to the floor,” he said.
Rumsey said that Gethers then went into the woman’s bathroom and covered himself and the bathroom with soap and water before entering the bedroom. When the woman confronted Gethers, who was wearing cargo shorts and no shirt, he did not make sense, Rumsey said.
“The victim said he was speaking incomprehensible gibberish,” he said.
The woman called 911 before Gethers grabbed the phone and removed the battery. Gethers left after she placed the call, Rumsey said. Police responded to the 911 hangup.
Gethers left the house on foot and an officer found him walking in the middle of Main Street waving his arms in the air, Rumsey said.
“He made some spontaneous statements to the officer saying he had been in the house on Chaplin Street,” Rumsey said. Rumsey said it’s not known if Gethers was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Gethers is charged with burglary, criminal mischief, obstructing the report of a crime and violating conditions of his release.
He was unable to make the $1,000 cash bail and was taken to Kennebec County jail. His court date at Kennebec Superior Court is Oct. 15.
Gethers has had a number of run-ins with the law in the area and Massachusetts.
On July 6, he was arrested in Waterville on a warrant for probation revocation.
On Feb. 13, he was arrested for being a fugitive from justice and extradited to Brockton, Mass., where he was wanted on a 2010 drug charge.
On Dec. 31, he was also convicted of violating the condition of his release in Winslow and was ordered to pay a $350 fine.
Jesse Scardina — 861-9239
jscardina@mainetoday.com
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