On Tuesday, April 9th at 5:34 a.m. the Riverton Police Department responded to the 200 block of West Washington Avenue for a male who told others in the neighbor that someone was chasing him.
An RPD officer made contact with a 32-year-old Riverton man named Charles Haukaas.
Haukaas told the officer that an unknown male was chasing him. The officer noted in court documents that Haukaas was, “acting very erratically as he was not able to stand or sit still, appearing to be under the influence of a controlled substance.” The man admitted to using methamphetamine at some point within the last three days.
Earlier that night, Charles was seen at a Federal Boulevard gas station. Employees told RPD he was acting in the same erratic manner, and when asked the leave the store, he picked up a rock outside and left the area.
While RPD interviewed the man on Washington Avenue, he announced to officers that he had broken a window of a bank on Main Street with a rock earlier in the night. Haukaas was transported to Main Street, and pointed to Bank of the West, acknowledging that he had broken a window in front of the building.
After admitting to the crime, Haukaas was arrested for property destruction. As he was placed under arrest, Charles admitted to breaking another store window on Main Street. RPD officers found another broken window with a rock thrown through it on the front entrance to Hoffman Electric, on East Main Street.
The damage to both windows was totaled at being over one thousand dollars.
The amount of damage results in a felony charge of property destruction. The charge is punishable by up to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000.
In late April, Haukaas waived his preliminary hearing. The matter is now transferred to District Court for further proceedings and arraignment.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.