PORT ST. LUCIE — A man who reportedly “escaped” from a hospital told police he went in a house to get a drink of water, later noting he took a cold shower and grabbed some items from the residence, according to an arrest affidavit released Tuesday.

Justino Cruz, 27, went to jail on felony burglary and misdemeanor petit theft charges following the alleged Monday night incident on Southeast Berkshire Boulevard.

While the victims were telling police their home wasn’t as they left it, Cruz, of the 1500 block of Southeast Royal Green Circle, walked out of the backyard, according to a report.

Police identified Cruz as a man who reportedly “escaped” from a hospital hours earlier, opening a window and knocking out a screen. Details of that apparent incident weren’t listed in the affidavit.

Meanwhile, one victim said he and his family came home from a beach trip and found the living room fan running. Lights were on, kitchen cabinets were open and a bath tub faucet was running.

Investigators found a Jello cup taken from the refrigerator and left on a kitchen table. Dresser drawers in the master bedroom were open. One of the victim’s undergarments was on the floor, and a wallet had been “opened up and gone through.”

Asked why he entered the residence, Cruz reportedly said he “wanted a drink of water.”

“I told Justino he was under arrest for burglary,” the report states. “Justino told me that he was happy not to be going back to the hospital.”

On the way to jail, Cruz said he took a cold shower in the home because it was hot. He also said he absconded with some property and had kicked it under the seat of the “first car” he’d been in.

Investigators turned up a gold necklace and a credit card belonging to one of the victims in another patrol car Cruz was placed in.

By Will Greenlee

Tags: arrest, beach, burglary, car, cold, drinking, escape, escapee, felony, green, hospital, housing, investigation, jail, man, misdemeanor, police, property, theft, water

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 18th, 2009 at 3:35 pm and is filed under Crime, Port St. Lucie. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.