Georgia man jailed after police say he tried to break into several Derry Borough apartments

A Georgia man is behind bars after state police said he attempted to break into several apartments this week in Derry Borough, according to court papers.

Jonathan Gaston, 28, is charged with attempted burglary, disorderly conduct and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Troopers were called to Hays Street at 10:15 p.m. Tuesday after a resident reported a man with a suitcase trying to get inside occupied and unoccupied apartments at buildings there. Police said the man, identified as Gaston, was homeless.

Three residents told police Gaston pulled on their door handles and knocked repeatedly and that some of them spotted him doing the same thing at other units where the occupant wasn’t home, according to court papers. One of the residents told the suspect to leave, but he refused, police said.

Gaston told troopers that he was meeting someone at a specific apartment number, but the resident living there didn’t know him, according to court papers. Police reported finding marijuana rolling papers and a plastic bag containing marijuana residue in his pocket.

Gaston was being held on $1,000 bail at the Westmoreland County Prison. He did not have an attorney listed in online court records. A preliminary hearing is set for April 6.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced in January to three to 12 months in jail on theft and receiving stolen property charges filed by North Huntingdon police in connection with an October incident, according to online court records.