Police Nab Man Accused of Prowling Neighborhood, Ambushing Resident

NEWPORT, RI -- Andrew S. Josiah, 33, of Newport, was arrested around 2:30 this morning after a Tilley Avenue resident identified him as the man who tried to force his way into his home.

According to police, the victim was visibly shaken and said he feared what might have happened to his wife and child asleep upstairs.

The victim said coming home from work around 2 a.m., he parked his car; but when he stepped out of the vehicle, he noticed a man in a gray hoodie with a backpack. The man stood across the street and appeared to be staring at the home. Then he shouted a profanity and followed the victim, who managed to get inside his door first. But as the victim shut the door and tried to reach the deadbolt lock, the suspect grabbed the door handle, pushed and attempted to break in.

The resident was able to hold off the suspect, who then left.

Police had a similar description of a suspect who minutes earlier had entered a house on Beacon Terrace. Those residents were home, and told police the suspect left when they confronted him. They described a man in a dark hoodie and carrying a backpack.

When the officers spotted Josiah, they asked the Tilley Avenue victim if he could identify the man. The victim said it was the same man.

Josiah was charged with attempted breaking and entering, by means of an ambushed victim. He was also charged with breaking or repairing burglary tools.

Police searched him and the backpack and said they found a black leather glove, a flashlight with an attached glass breaker tool, a heavy duty folding knife with a 3-inch blade, and a Velcro bag containing various other tools and picking instruments.