ROCKLAND – A South Thomaston man was arrested July 1 after Rockland Police say he broke into a Rockland residence and attempted to assault a person inside the home.

Rockland Police officers Andrew Redden and Jacob Shirey arrested Kurtis Rome Bertrand, 21, of South Thomaston, and charged him with aggravated criminal trespass and criminal mischief after he broke through a door of a woman’s home, attempted to assault a man in the home, and then went to the second floor of the home to visit his infant child, according to court documents.

Court documents further state that Redden and Shirey responded to the incident on Rankin Street. Dispatch operators told the officers that they could hear a male banging on the door over the radio as he was trying to gain entrance into the home. When the officers arrived, Bertrand was already inside the home and in an upstairs bedroom with the child. The officers persuaded Bertrand to return the child to its crib.

According to court documents, Bertrand was bloody and his eyes were swollen. Bertrand said he was assaulted by a man in the house when he attempted to break into the house. He refused medical attention. Police officers reported that Bertrand had slurred speech, smelled of alcohol and was unsteady on his feet.

Bertrand told the police that the victim had willingly let him enter the house, but this was denied by the victim. The man who was with Bertrand also broke into the home and threatened to take a gun into the home. Charges are pending against him, according to court documents.

After he was placed in custody, Bertrand told police that he only wanted to see his child and loved the victim.

Bertrand made his initial appearance in court July 1 in Knox County Unified Court. His bail was set at $5,000 cash.

Bertrand will make his next court appearance in Knox County Unified Court in August.

Sarah Shepherd can be reached at penbaypilot.com