Cops: Man broke into home after woman rejected him

Lisa Roose-Church | The Daily Press & Argus, Livingston County, Mich.

A Michigan man is being held on a $400,000 bond for allegedly breaking into the home of a woman who refused his sexual advance.

Joshua Jaid Rodgers, 25, is charged with first-degree home invasion for breaking into the woman's former home in Livingston County, Mich., as well as assault with intent to commit sexual penetration, assault with intent to commit great bodily harm less than murder, and assault by strangulation.

Rodgers, who also faces one count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and two counts of interfering with electronic communication, returns to Livingston County District Court on July 28.

Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte said the woman reported she and Rodger had been drinking alcohol while he helped her move from her former Mason Road home Tuesday.

Bezotte said Rodgers allegedly told the woman he wanted sex, but she refused the advance, and Rodgers left her home at about 11:45 p.m. when she requested he leave. The sheriff said the woman reported that Rodgers instead drove his Ford Focus to the end of the her driveway, where he "revved his engine and began driving around the house."

The woman told police Rodgers began pounding on her front door, and as she responded, he moved to the back door and "tried to break in" before wrapping his hand in his T-shirt and using it to break in a door window, Bezotte said.

As Rodgers entered the woman's home, she tried to call 911, but Rodgers allegedly took the phone from her. Rodgers allegedly thwarted the woman's second attempt to call for help by snatching his phone from her and throwing it on the kitchen floor, the sheriff said.

Bezotte said the woman reported Rodgers attacked her and held her against her will. He said the woman indicated Rodgers grabbed her neck and threw her off the porch, which gave her a chance to run to a neighbor's home. The sheriff said the woman ran from neighbor to neighbor, hiding in the ditch or behind a bush to keep Rodgers from finding her.

She eventually found a neighbor who let her inside, and she was able to call 911.

A Michigan State Police trooper later located Rodgers at his home. When the officer approached the home, he reportedly heard Rodgers saying, "I'm going to jail tonight."

The trooper arrested Rodgers, who was "highly intoxicated and had his right hand in an Ace bandage," without incident, Bezotte said.