A 37-year-old man is facing multiple charges following an alleged break-in at an Oneida residence on Sept. 15.
At 7:53 p.m. that evening, Knox County deputies responded to a call of a burglary in progress in the 400 block of West Prospect Street. The caller told the department that she arrived home and could smell cigarette smoke coming from her apartment after parking in the garage. Upon entering her apartment, she heard movement and called out, asking who was inside, receiving the answer “Joshua.”
She then exited the apartment, got in her vehicle and backed out. She said a man in a towel opened the door, looked outside and went back inside. She then called the police.
She told deputies that she had last been in the home at 9 a.m. that morning and had locked the door when she left. She also noted that she had been seeing lights on at the apartment above hers, despite it being unoccupied.
Deputies cleared the apartment and noted the shower had been recently used. At this time, a man matching the caller’s description came out of the vacant apartment, told the deputies he was trying to sleep, then went back inside.
Upon confirming with the building’s owner that the apartment was supposed to be vacant, the owner arrived on scene to allow deputies inside. When they entered, the suspect, identified as Joshua R. Gemmell, 37, attempted to flee but was stopped by deputies. The victim of the break-in confirmed to deputies that the suspect was the man who had been in her apartment.
A search of the vacant apartment in which Gemmell was hiding found several items apparently taken from the victim during the break-in, including food and some chairs. The total value of stolen items was estimated at $1,000.
Knox County Sheriff’s Office deputies took Gemmell into custody on charges of burglary, criminal trespass, felony theft and obstructing identification. He was also found to have a warrant for his arrest from Will County.
On Sept. 17, Gemmell was charged in Knox County Court with Class 1 felony residential burglary, Class 3 felony theft over $500, and misdemeanor charges of obstructing identification and criminal trespass to a residence.
The suspect was released with conditions and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Oct. 14.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
