Dayton cop arrested in burglary incident
Jail says officer was allegedly intoxicated, thought home was his; police start inquiry, ponder charges.
Officer Terrence Laprath, who was detained by a homeowner who sat on him, may have thought house was his, police say.
DAYTON - Dayton police Officer Torrence E. Laprath was wearing a gray three-piece suit when he was arrested early Sunday morning on suspicion of burglary after being sat on by a man at a Dayton residence.
Laprath, 33, was arrested at 3:25 a.m. Sunday by fellow Dayton officers at a home on Strathaven Drive in northeast Dayton. Laprath was booked into the Montgomery County Jail just after 4 a.m.
“Officer T. Laprath has been a Dayton police officer for 11 years. He is currently on unpaid administrative leave. The criminal case against him will move forward with detectives meeting with the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office regarding possible charges. There is also an active administrative investigation being conducted by the Dayton Police Department’s Professional Standards Bureau,” the city of Dayton said in a statement.
The Dayton Daily News has asked for Laprath’s personnel records and weekend timecards.
Laprath was not listed on the jail roster early Monday.
Police were dispatched at 1:10 a.m. Sunday to a home where a couple live with their daughter. Laprath allegedly kicked in a door, according to a 911 call.
“Somebody broke into my house,” said a 911 caller while asking for help. “I’m sitting on top of him.”
The caller later said he didn’t know the man.
“He attacked me when I got here,” the 911 caller said. “He came right after me. He tried to tackle me, but I got away, and I got on top of him.
“He kicked my front door wide open . ... My wife and daughter are freaked out, and so am I.”
The call includes sounds like a man mumbling, a dog barking and crying. A dispatcher told the caller that his daughter — scared and calling from another room — also called 911, and dispatchers told her that her father was OK.
“He’s saying he’s a Dayton police
continued from B1 officer,” the caller said on the call.
Nearly eight minutes into the more than 10-minute call, the caller asks if officers are on their way.
“Well, I’m glad he ain’t trying to stab me or nothing,” the caller said. “I’d be dead right now.”
The call ended a couple of minutes later when the caller said officers arrived. Social media posts indicate the victim is a former U.S. Marine.
An incident report written by Dayton police Officer Christopher White noted Laprath was wearing a threepiece suit and black trench coat.
No narrative was included with the report.
The allegations are that Laprath was intoxicated and entered a home thinking it was his own, according to a desk sergeant at the jail.
The police 911 dispatch log includes an entry at 2:09 a.m. that says, “Alleged suspect is in cruiser 150112 located at the intersection of Strathaven Dr. and Berrywood Dr.” Contact this reporter at 937225-6951 or email Mark. Gokavi@coxinc.com.