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LAKE TWP. — A Nanticoke man may had been under the influence of bath salts when he ripped apart a house believing people in walls were “spying” on him, according to court records.
Damion Michael Sweeney, 39, of Maple Street, was arraigned Monday on charges of burglary and possession of a controlled substance in connection to the incident at a house on state Route 29 in Lake Township on Oct. 19.
According to the criminal complaint:
State police responded to the house and spoke with the owner’s parents, who were checking on the residence since their son was away.
The parents told a trooper they noticed a Chevrolet TrailBlazer in the driveway and Sweeney exiting the house. They also noticed extensive damage inside the residence.
Sweeney allegedly told the parents about “people,” “things inside the walls spying on him,” and “trying to get the people and things in the walls,” the complaint says.
The homeowner told police he knows Sweeney and allowed him to stay at the house for two or three days in July 2018. Sweeney did not have permission to be at the house in October.
State police said drywall was ripped away exposing wood studs in the kitchen, living room, family room, bedrooms, a stairwell, a bathroom and ceiling. There was also damage to rain gutters on the porch and a UGI electrical utility meter had a tag removed, the complaint says.
Several days after the burglary and vandalism, state police said the homeowner found a bag containing a controlled substance that tested positive for bath salts.
The homeowner’s insurance company, Allstate, estimated damage at $54,433, the complaint says.
Sweeney was arraigned by District Judge Matthew C. Christopher in Luzerne County Central Court on charges of burglary, criminal trespass, criminal mischief and possession of a controlled substance. He was jailed at the county correctional facility for lack of $50,000 bail.