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Facebook Live Post Lands Martinsburg Man Behind Bars

A Martinsburg man was jailed after police said he broadcast himself inside a home he allegedly broke into over Facebook Live while under the influence of drugs.

Joseph L. Krouse, 33, is facing a felony charge of criminal trespass along with misdemeanor counts of prowling at night and disorderly conduct after police said he filmed himself while walking around a home he was not authorized to be in.

According to Hollidaysburg State Police, on March 2, just after midnight, troopers were dispatched to the area of the 4000 block of Cove Mountain Road, after a man called 911 and said he needed help. Police said the caller refused to give any information and hung up.

While police were in route to investigate, they received several more calls reporting someone was knocking on doors yelling for help.

When police arrived at the area, a woman sitting in a vehicle told them that she was looking for her boyfriend, who police said she identified as Krouse. While police searched the area, they received another call about someone knocking on doors.

Martinsburg Borough police said they received several phone calls from friends and family members of Krouse reporting that Krouse was broadcasting a Facebook Live video of himself walking around inside someone’s house, sitting on their porch, and walking in and out of their garage.

Martinsburg police were able to identify the location where the video was being broadcast and were able to take Krouse into custody. Police said the residents of the home did not know Krouse. Police said Krouse admitted to using illegal narcotics the previous night.

Krouse was arraigned by Tyrone Magisterial District Judge Fred Miller and committed to the Blair County Prison in lieu of $15,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for today, April 28, in front of Martinsburg Magisterial District Judge Andrew Blattenberger.

 

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