By Staff

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A 30-year-old man, Moise Beltschatsar Delva, was taken into custody last night on charges of attempting to break into an occupied residence.

According to the Gainesville Police Department, officers received a call at approximately 9:24 p.m. regarding an incident at the 39th Avenue Apartments located at 1101 NW 39th Avenue. The resident reported that an individual had attempted to open her front door, subsequently moving to the enclosed patio beside the apartment. The suspect allegedly made several attempts to forcefully open a sliding glass door and, when unsuccessful, tried to pry open the bedroom window.

The frightened resident retreated to her bathroom for safety. She reported hearing the individual at her front door again before he returned to the patio. However, police arrived promptly and apprehended Delva at the scene.

After being read his rights, Delva reportedly claimed he had “drunk a bottle and walked behind someone’s house,” insisting he was “just homeless and trying to get inside of a house.” He allegedly mentioned that he believed the apartment to be a “trap house” — a term used to describe a location where illegal drug activities occur — and that was his reason for attempting to enter. Delva denied accessing the enclosed patio, insisting the sliding glass door was already ajar. However, officers noted that the door’s location made it visible only from within the patio, contradicting his account. When informed of the burglary charges, Delva reportedly stated he was merely “trespassing.”

The apartment resident confirmed she did not know Delva and had not granted him permission to enter her home.

Delva, whose address is listed as Homestead and is described as homeless on the arrest report, has been charged with attempted burglary of an occupied dwelling. He has arrests in Miami-Dade County for battery, indecent exposure, selling drugs, child abuse, trespassing, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and strongarm robbery and at least one arrest in Georgia; he has served one state prison sentence and was released in 2019. Judge Jonathan Ramsey ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.