A man who is suspected of prowling into the bedroom of a 19-year-old College Area woman was captured after officers followed his wet footprints, San Diego police said Wednesday.
The suspect, identified as 22-year-old Dillan Baldwin Acuna, entered the family home on Mary Lane just south of the San Diego State University campus sometime before 4:45 a.m. while residents were sleeping.
"He actually went into a 19-year-old female's bedroom, lifted the sheets out of the bed," SDPD Lt. Arturo Swadener said. As she awoke, he ducked down and fled from the house."
The teenager called 911 and police arrived to the home to find Acuna peering through their windows, Swadener said. As the suspect ran from officers, he fell into a neighbor's pool on Dorothy Drive.
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"Officers followed the wet tracks and found the man," Swadener said.
The shirtless man was taken into custody for one count of first-degree residential burglary, although nothing was taken from the home. It was not clear if he would face any other charges. He was being held on $50,000 bail.
It was not clear how the suspect entered the home and the motive for the intrusion was still under investigation.
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The area surrounding San Diego State University has been the location of several recent home invasions, but San Diego police have not linked Acuna to any other cases, although they've thoroughly reviewed the evidence they have. A separate suspect was arrested in another case in February.
"We are doing a follow-up on a couple different leads that I can't get into right now, but are following up on a couple leads on this case," SDPD Capt. Albert Leos said.
The teenage girl is uninjured "but obviously startled," Swadener said, adding she was "keeping her composure very well."
No physical contact was made, Leos said.
SDPD is asking the community to check their surveillance cameras from the past few days to see if there was any suspicious activity that could aid them in their investigation. Those with information should contact SDPD's Eastern Division.
Capt. Leos also advised residents to lock their windows and doors, even in the summer heat.
