BY KEITH EPPS
A Spotsylvania man was arrested late Wednesday following a bizarre incident that apparently began when he tried to hide from a police officer who wasn't looking for him.
According to Fredericksburg police spokeswoman Natatia Bledsoe, the officer was on routine patrol in the 1000 block of Heritage Park about 10:40 p.m. when he saw a man knocking out a screen window and preparing to jump from a second-story window. He then ducked back into the residence.
The officer checked with a woman who lives in the apartment and learned that the man he'd seen was not one of the seven people who were supposed to be in the home at the time, including three sleeping children.
The adults got the children out of the home, leaving the suspect inside by himself. He was later taken into custody without incident.
The residents knew the suspect, but did not know he was in the home and had not given him permission to be there, Bledsoe said.
The suspect told police that he'd gone into the home to avoid the officer who was patrolling the area.
But Bledsoe said the suspect had no outstanding warrants and was not being looked for by the officer.
"It appears he was trying not to be noticed by someone who wasn't looking for him to begin with," Bledsoe said.
Khalil Salahuddin, 19, was charged with unlawful entry, trespassing, vandalism and three counts of child endangerment. He was placed in the Rappahannock Regional Jail under no bond.
Keith Epps: 540/374-5404
Email: kepps@freelancestar.com