The Durango Police Department arrested a homeless man Thursday morning suspected of illegally entering numerous homes throughout Durango in the early morning hours.
“He had no conscience about where he was going or concerned if people were there,” said Cmdr. Rita Warfield. “That was the scary thing about him.”
Warfield said Chad Nolan, 35, has been around Durango for a few years. Recently, however, he started breaking into homes through open windows or unlocked doors. In the last few days, his behavior “heated up,” prompting an extensive search for him by authorities.
Most of the break-ins, Warfield said, happened in the neighborhood south of College Drive.
“A lot of upset neighbors were worried about this guy,” she said.
On Sunday, Nolan is suspected of breaking into a vacation rental. He was found naked by the owner of the home, and it appeared he had taken a shower.
Then, around 5 a.m. Thursday, Nolan is suspected of entering a home and going into the room of a 14-year-old girl. Warfield could not go into detail about the incident, but said the child was able to alert her mother, and the two got out of the house.
That break-in prompted a robust response by authorities.
“We had all our officers and detectives out after we got the report this morning,” Warfield said.
Authorities received a report Nolan was walking around the grid of downtown Durango. Officers were stationed in different areas, waiting to catch him.
After being spotted near the 100 block of East Fifth Avenue, Nolan fled from officers but was apprehended in an alley around 9:45 a.m.
“He did run, but not very far,” Warfield said.
Nolan had seven active warrants for burglary, drugs, assault and trespassing.
Warfield said in addition to the warrants, Nolan was charged with first-degree burglary and attempted sexual assault on a child. She declined to go into detail about the sexual assault charge.
“People were concerned about this person, so we’re glad to be able to apprehend him,” Warfield said.
jromeo@durangoherald.com
