Drunken intruder at apartment arrested

A Pennside woman heard a loud noise from the back door of her apartment Tuesday night, Jan. 11, while lying in bed, Central Berks Regional police said.

The woman thought it was her boyfriend until a stranger appeared at her bedroom door, police continued.

The intruder, who emitted a strong odor of alcohol, entered her dark bedroom and reached for her dog. She warned him the dog might bite him, and ordered the man to leave the residence, police said in a criminal complaint. According to police:

The incident happened shortly after 9:30 p.m. in the 700 block of Carsonia Avenue. The woman told police that the man ignored her initial command to leave, instead walking to her nightstand and picking up the alarm clock.

Fearing he might hit her with the clock, she warned him that she was calling the police. He slammed the clock onto the floor next to the bed, and she again told him that he needed to leave and that she was on the phone with police.

The man walked out of the bedroom and sat on her couch, where he passed out.

Central Berks Regional Police Officer Jeremy Smith was already in the block on a report of a suspicious male in the area of a tavern. Smith and Officer Bryan Cilento entered through the rear door, which they noticed had damage to the door, knob and frame.

They found the intruder asleep on the couch and took him into custody. He was identified as Alex P. Tenney, 26, of the 400 block of Carsonia Avenue.

Tenney was committed to Berks County Prison in lieu of $5,000 bail after arraignment Tuesday night before District Judge Kim L. Bagenstose in Reading Central Court on charges of criminal trespassing, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.