Fresh from jail, man allegedly breaks into house in search of place to live

A transient Lacey man, who was recently released from jail, was arrested anew after he allegedly broke into a stranger’s home in his search for a place to live.

TJ Murray, 28, was arrested on Oct. 31, the same day he was released from the Nisqually Jail, after a reported burglary in the 2000 block of Fourth Avenue E.

The reporting party told police that a man, later identified as Murray, broke in through his back door, where he confronted the suspect.

Murray told the reporting party that he needed the home but did not specify what he meant, according to the police report. The suspect left the house after talking to the resident.

The homeowners, who were also related to the reporting party, told police that a surveillance camera captured Murray peering into the house through the kitchen window then ramming the door with his shoulder. He left the camera’s field of view as he entered the house.

Police later located Murray walking westbound on State Avenue NE.

The suspect told police that he broke into a house to see if he could live there, explaining that he had just gotten released from jail and was trying to find his way back home to Oregon. He admitted to trying to break into another house prior to this incident.

The reporting party positively identified Murray as the man who tried to break into his house.

Murray was booked into the Thurston County Jail for residential burglary.

Nisqually Jail records show that Murray was arrested on Oct. 27 on suspicion of third-degree theft, harassment, resisting arrest, third-degree driving while license suspended or revoked, and failing to give information to an officer. He was released on Oct. 31.