A Venetia man was arrested early Wednesday by North Strabane Township police after he allegedly went into a home uninvited, telling the residents he was being chased by a man with a gun.

Robert Michael Cole, 26, of 130 Meadowbrook Circle, was caught near the Sheetz convenience store on Washington Road not long after police were called to a home at 21 Willow St.

Officer Matthew Mancini was responding to the home when he saw a man, later identified as Cole, running from the area. Cole reportedly tried to hide in the convenience store lot and then tried to run but was caught by police. Officers said Cole appeared to be under the influence of narcotics and was acting erratically and irrationally. Police said his girlfriend showed up at the store and told officers he had just used heroin.

Sean Buttlar, one of the residents inside the home, told police he had heard loud banging. He then saw a man whom he did not know inside the house. The man, identified as Cole, told Buttlar he was being chased by a man with a gun. One of the residents called police. Cole waited for a brief time before leaving the house, police said.

Cole was arraigned before District Judge David Mark on charges of criminal trespass, public drunkenness, loitering and prowling at night and disorderly conduct. He was placed in the Washington County jail on $25,000 bond.

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