A Grand Forks man faces felony charges after police say he broke into the wrong apartment last night and attempted to silence screaming children by grabbing their necks.
Grand Forks police say Sanjay Yakha, 23, broke into to an apartment in the 700 block of South 25th Street at about 2:50 a.m. Thursday, and entered a bedroom, where he tried to make contact with someone he believed lived there.
A woman and her two young children who live there were alarmed, and screamed. Police say Yakha attempted to quiet the children by grabbing them by their throats before fleeing the apartment.
Lt. Bill Macki told the Herald the children did not sustain observable injuries in the incident and that the mother denied ambulance services last night, but was encouraged to follow up with a doctor.
“It was certainly a scary situation for all of those in the apartment,” Macki said.
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An eyewitness identified Yakha to police, according to a press release. He was arrested at his residence shortly thereafter, and booked into the Grand Forks County Correctional Center at 4:03 a.m.
Police recommended charges of aggravated assault, a Class B felony, and criminal trespass, a Class B felony. Those charges have not been officially filed in district court as of 9:45 a.m. Thursday.
Police believe Yakha entered the apartment through an unlocked patio door, and are reminding citizens to lock their doors and vehicles.
“A significant amount of our burglaries and thefts come from unsecured vehicles and homes,” Macki said.
