KEETON
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A local man could be facing more than a decade and a half in prison after allegedly breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s home and holding her there for nearly three hours.
The Union County Grand Jury has indicted Carl W. Keeton, 28, of 150 Hemlock Drive, charging him with one count each of aggravated burglary, assault, abduction, disrupting public services, menacing and obstructing official business.
According to court documents, about 3:23 a.m., on Aug. 31, Marysville Police received a call from a home in the 200 block of Cherry Street. The caller said her ex-boyfriend had just left the home on a bicycle, wearing a camouflage hooded sweatshirt.
While Officer Mark Sullivan was on his way to the scene, he noticed a man on a bike in a camo hoodie.
“Officer Sullivan announced his presence to Carl and ordered him to stop, however he did not comply and quickly continued on to East Fourth Street on the bicycle,” according to court documents.
Sullivan caught up to the man, again ordered him to stop and turned his emergency lights on.
“It was at this time Carl jumped off his bicycle and proceeded to run away on foot,” according to court documents. “After a short foot pursuit, Officer Sullivan was able to catch Carl and detain him.”
When investigators spoke with the woman, she said that about 12:30 a.m., Keeton broke into the home. She said she does not own the home, but lives as a roommate with the owner.
“He was not to be there,” said Union County Prosecutor Dave Phillips. “The homeowner had told him not to be there.”
Phillips explained that when Keeton got into the home, he allegedly went upstairs to confront the girlfriend.
“When he got in, she tried to leave,” said Phillips.
According to court documents, the woman tried to get Keeton to leave and when he would not, she said she was going to call the police.
“She tried to get to the phone,” said Phillips.
According to court documents, the man told the victim, “If you call the cops…I don’t hit women, but you could be a winner.”
“Once Carl realized (the victim) was speaking with the 911 operator, he attempted to stop the call by striking her in the face and grabbing the phone,” according to court documents.
Phillips said Keeton does not appear to have a history of violence, but does have “quite a criminal history.”
According to jail records, Keeton has been arrested for escape, driving under the influence, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, failure to appear and other charges.
If convicted on all charges, Keeton could face more than 17 years in prison. Keeton is being held in the Tri-County Regional Jail. Bail has been set at $50,000.
The prosecutor said when a relationship ends, people need to make smart decisions.
“We have a number of these cases, where people break-in, for whatever reason, whether it is revenge or to try to talk to the prison or for whatever reason, but there are other ways to deal with things, without committing a felony,” Phillips said.