It's no wonder around here...

Man reports break-in suspect -- himself

Police catch man trying to enter church; drug charges also filed

By Jason G. Zencka Journal staff

Who says there's no such thing as an honest criminal?

Police dispatchers were startled by a call Saturday evening from a man who claimed to be staging an unsuccessful break-in at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 1919 Wyatt Ave.

The man, 24-year-old Stevens Point resident Zachary Brandl, said he had been using a metal shovel to batter his way through the church doors when he decided to solicit help from the police.

Police officers, who previously had been alerted to a suspicious-looking man in the area, encountered Brandl in the church parking lot, where he had been awaiting their arrival. According to police reports, Brandl told officers he had hoped to get married in the church.

Upon searching Brandl, officers found a prescription bottle containing marijuana, at which point Brandl offered to take the police to his home, where he said he was storing more drugs. True to his word, Brandl directed officers to his house, where he showed them a cache of marijuana. Brandl then further volunteered information that he was keeping stolen prescription muscle relaxants in a box in his cabinet.

Police eventually arrested Brandl on charges of criminal damage to property, possession of THC, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of prescription drugs. Police detected no trace of alcohol abuse.

The story, which already has been circulating throughout City Hall, proves to be one of the stranger incidents in recent department history.

"It's definitely a weird one," said Capt. Kevin Ruder, "It caught my attention in the morning."

Added Police Chief Jeff Morris, "There aren't many arrests like that."