17-year-old from Racine charged with criminal trespassing

RACINE (WITI) -- A 17-year-old from Racine has been charged in connection with an incident allegedly involving criminal trespassing.

Braxxton Griffey of Racine faces one count of criminal trespassing -- a misdemeanor charge.

On April 4th, 2014, just after 10:00 p.m., police were dispatched to a residence in the 2200 block of Harriet Street in Racine in reference to a burglary in progress.

A 911 caller reportedly found male subjects in the residence -- and the subjects had run out of the rear door.

A criminal complaint in the case says two women showed up to the home that they believed was vacant. However, they noticed a light on in a bedroom -- and observed three men in the bedroom -- a man wearing a red sweatshirt, a man wearing a gray sweatshirt, and a man wearing a black sweatshirt and gray pants (later identified as Griffey).

The complaint says that when the men realized the women where there, they fled.

The complaint says one of the women said the residence belongs to her mother, who had recently moved out. The woman said she was headed back to the residence that night to retrieve items she had left behind.

Police spoke with the woman's mother, who said she did not consent to the men entering her home -- and said she wished to prosecute, according to the complaint.

The complaint says police walked through the residence -- and nothing was determined to be damaged or missing.

Outside the home, police noticed the bedroom's storm window had been pushed up and pulled off the track -- and the inside window had hand smudge prints consistent with someone trying to push the window open from the outside, according to the complaint. A large brick was observed under the window. Police say the screen had been torn.

The complaint says two of the males matching the description of two of the men who had been in the bedroom were observed running in the area. One of them was Griffey.

Griffey was detained near the scene, and was heard telling an officer: "You've got the wrong guy" -- according to the complaint.

The complaint says Griffey was observed to be out of breath and sweating. He was placed into handcuffs.

At this point, the complaint indicates Griffey indicated he had been with another man, whom he named.

The complaint indicates a sweatshirt and backpack that Griffey had been wearing were observed in the backyard of the home on Harriet Street.

The complaint says Griffey told police he was planning on staying the night at his friend's house. He said they were invited to go to Harriet Street by another man.

The complaint say Griffey told police two women came into the house and began to yell at them -- saying they then "freaked out" and ran from the residence.

The complaint says Griffey has been charged with criminal trespass to dwelling, a juvenile apprehension in absentia report was completed for another man, and a third man was apprehended for criminal trespass to dwelling.

If convicted of the charge against him in this case, Griffey could face a maximum of nine months in prison and/or a maximum of $10,000 in fines.