Attempted burglar caught hiding in Honda Civic

BEMIDJI -- A Duluth man faces a burglary charge after an attempted break-in at a Solway home last week.

Marcus Woundedeye, 35, of Duluth is charged with felony first-degree attempted burglary of an occupied dwelling. First-degree attempted burglary carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $35,000 fine.

According to court documents, a Solway woman was awoken by someone attempting to break into her home at about 1 a.m. Aug. 19.

Beltrami County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a call on Sundown Road near Solway at approximately 1:20 a.m. on Aug. 19 after the victim's neighbors called 911.

According to a criminal complaint, Woundedeye attempted to gain entry to the victim's home and garage with a hammer and rock, which were used to shatter a glass front door and side window of the house. Deputies observed blood on the interior of the door, which was still locked, the complaint said.

The homeowner told deputies after she called her neighbors to report the disturbance she heard someone running away from her house but did not get a good view of the perpetrator.

A K-9 unit was dispatched to the scene and followed a blood trail approximately 12 yards north of the residence stopping at the driver's side door of a Honda Civic. Woundedeye was found inside the car and arrested.

The arresting deputy reported Woundedeye had a distinct odor of an alcoholic beverage and displayed slurred speech and bloodshot, watery eyes, according to court documents. In a statement to law enforcement, Woundedeye confessed to using a rock to break into the victim's garage and attempt to gain access to her residence and to fleeing and hiding in the Civic parked at a nearby residence.

Woundedeye's criminal history includes assault, consuming in public, trespassing, disorderly conduct, theft, panhandling and obstructing legal process in Minnesota, theft and burglary in Montana and felony theft in Oklahoma. Woundedeye is being held in the Beltrami County Jail. He made his initial court appearance Monday and is next scheduled for court on Tuesday.