A man with a record that includes 130 arrests in Hartford alone and 46 convictions is accused of committing a home invasion in the city Monday while a resident was home.
Police received a 911 call around 5:15 p.m. from a woman who barricaded herself in a safe room on the second floor of a house on Woodside Circle. She called said she heard a window break and told dispatchers that someone broke glass and was in the home, police said.
Police said her fear was that the babysitter would arrive at the home with her children while someone was breaking into the house.
"That was predesigned for such an event, fortified with at least a steel door and other features to make it a safe room," Deputy Police Chief Brian Foley said about the safe room.
"You see these houses, there's just extra rooms. Made a safe room. Smart," he added.
The woman calmly maintained contact with dispatchers as police and Hartford K-9 Rosco arrived.
Rosco found 56-year-old Leroy Mims, of Hartford, hiding in the bathtub of second-floor children’s bathroom, clutching a steak knife, police said. He had the victim’s jewelry and several items in a backpack and pockets, including a CD player, a hairdryer, toothpaste, soap, sneakers, $500 Stuart Weitzman high heels, an alarm clock and a watch. In all, the items Mims is accused of stealing are worth $14,500.
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He claimed he was the victim, police said.
Mims has been arrested 130 times in Hartford and convicted 46 times, police said.
"There's an issue with reentry. People are getting arrested, they're being put back on the streets," Foley said. "Resources aren't there.
Mims has been charged with home invasion, first-degree burglary, second-degree larceny, first-degree criminal mischief, carrying a dangerous weapon and interfering with police.
Bond was set at $750,000.
