A Menifee resident was arrested on suspicion of prowling and burglary following multiple incidents reported in the area, the Menifee Police Department announced on Thursday.
According to the Menifee Police Department, the suspect was described as roaming local apartment complexes, allegedly attempting to find unlocked front doors during the early morning hours.
In one reported incident, the suspect gained entry to an occupied home through an unlocked door but fled when the residents awoke. Several recordings of the suspect were shared on social media platforms, raising awareness in the community.
During the early morning hours of September 26, while conducting surveillance in the area of Park Plaza Avenue and Town Center Drive, officers observed a subject matching the description of the suspect. When officers attempted to make contact, the suspect fled on foot, prompting a short chase before he was taken into custody.
The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Irving William Firtha-Morrison of Menifee, was booked at the Cois Byrd Detention Center for prowling, burglary, and resisting arrest, according to the Menifee Police Department. His bail was set at 35,000, jail records show.
The Menifee Police Department urges residents to keep their doors locked, even while at home, and to report any suspicious activity directly to police dispatch at the non-emergency number at 951-677-4964 or by dialing 9-1-1 for emergencies.
Anyone with additional information about the suspect is asked to contact Detective Flores at 951-723-1663.
