Crime and Courts

Intruder arrested at Belgrade home, found with marijuana in his shoe

Posted: Nov 14, 2012 3:33 PM by Erin Schattauer

BELGRADE - A Belgrade man was arrested after he reportedly entered a home without permission and was found with a bag of marijuana in his shoe.

A man called 911 at around 4:45 p.m. Tuesday after his teenage daughter got home from school and found a man inside their house that she didn't know.

When police got there they found Steven Lee Herdt, 57, inside the home near Belgrade. Herdt reportedly told police that he was there because a friend had asked him to come to the residence to take care of some dogs. But the person the man claimed asked him to come to the house denied having any conversation with Herdt about dog care, court documents state.

Herdt's statements became more and more vague and inconsistent, especially when pressed for more information about people, places and other information, court documents state.

The homeowner said he wanted to hold the intruder responsible but didn't want to have him charged with felony burglary, so police agreed to charge him with trespass to property.

Police say when they entered the residence, they could smell marijuana immediately. Herdt told them he had smoked marijuana earlier and he still had some in his shoe. Police found a small bag containing what appeared to be a marijuana bud in his shoe. He was also charged with possession of dangerous drugs.