Jose Cervantez

WARSAW — The force was apparently not with a Warsaw man who is facing charges after allegedly being found inside a residence wearing a Star Wars costume.

Jose Cervantez, 21, 16 Henderson Drive, Warsaw, is being charged with burglary, a level 4 felony, and theft, a class A misdemeanor. 

According to the affidavit of probable cause, on Monday, April 22, officers with the Warsaw Police Department responded to a burglary. County Dispatch advised that the suspect was still inside the residence at that time.

When officers arrived at the scene, they spoke with the homeowner, who said he woke up and heard someone outside his bedroom. He observed a male, later identified as Cervantez, standing in the doorway of his bedroom, shining a flashlight. 

According to the homeowner, Cervantez was wearing a Star Wars costume that belongs to the homeowner’s son. The homeowner asked Cervantez why he was in the house, but Cervantez turned and went down the stairs. 

The homeowner said Cervantez went into the garage where he removed the Star Wars costume. Cervantez then reportedly opened the door of a vehicle belonging to the homeowner’s wife. At that time, Cervantez allegedly removed a handgun from the vehicle. The homeowner stated the handgun appeared to have a silencer on it. Cervantez then walked away from the residence while holding the gun. 

Officers used a K-9 to track Cervantez west of the residence where they found him in a parked truck. Inside the vehicle, officers found a black BB gun. Officers spoke with the homeowner’s wife, who stated she found a blanket and Star Wars helmet inside her vehicle. She advised those items came from inside the residence and said the helmet was part of the Star Wars costume Cervantez had been wearing. 

Cervantez reportedly admitted that before he went inside the residence he placed the BB gun inside the vehicle belonging to the homeowner’s wife. He then removed the blanket and helmet from inside the residence and placed those items in the vehicle. 

When police searched Cervantez, they found a picture of skiers at Hidden Lake and a small key in his pocket. 

Cervantez was booked at the Kosciusko County Jail April 22 on a $15,250 surety and cash bond.