Foreman man charged with burglary, weapons offense

Felony charges have been filed in Little River County against a Foreman man accused of breaking into a home last month.

According to court records, on Sept. 7 Little River County Sheriff Bobby Walraven arrived at a residence on LR 68 in reference to a suspicious person on the property. Upon arrival, Walraven approached the back door of the residence. He stated that as soon as he grabbed the doorknob he heard a shotgun rack on the other side.

He then heard the horn from his truck blowing and was advised by his wife, who accompanied on the property check, that a man had run from the front door into the adjacent woods.

Walraven caught up with the suspect who was apprehended without further incident. After initially denying he had a firearm, the suspect reportedly told Walraven that he left the shotgun at the edge of the woods.

A deputy then arrived to assist Walraven in the arrest. The suspect was identified as 19-year-old James Smith of Foreman.

Smith has been charged with felony counts of residential burglary and criminal use of prohibited weapons. The prohibited weapons offense is applied if the weapon is deemed illegal under state or federal law, such as a sawed-off shotgun.