A Northern California man who claimed to be fictional wizard-detective Harry Dresden was arrested after allegedly trying to break into a Fairfield home, an encounter captured on a home security camera that has since spread widely online.
The 30-year-old man is facing multiple felony charges stemming from the April 7 break-in, including assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threats, first-degree burglary and vandalism, according to jail records. While in custody, he later received an additional charge of annoying or molesting a child under 18, Fairfield police said in a release.
Officers were dispatched to the 1700 block of Burbank Court at about 9 a.m. after reports of an unknown man attempting to force his way into a home where a woman and child were inside, police said.
Video from the home’s Ring camera shows the man at the front door, initially asking to be let in before becoming increasingly aggressive.
“Open this f—king door. Where’s your daughter, man?” he can be heard shouting, kicking the door and demanding entry.
The homeowner repeatedly tells the man to leave, saying, “You have nothing to do with my house. Can you leave my house? Please.”
The suspect, wearing a trench coat and flip-flops, continues to escalate, at one point leaning into the camera and declaring, “My name is Harry Dresden, motherf—ker. … This is my neighborhood. Open the f—king door. Now, or I will f—king end you.”
The name seemed to reference Harry Dresden, the wizard private investigator from “The Dresden Files” by Jim Butcher.
Police said the man kicked the front door and, when unable to get in, entered the home through a sliding glass door. The homeowner’s husband, who had been watching the situation unfold on a security camera, returned home and confronted the man with a shovel.
A physical fight followed, leaving both men with head injuries, police said.
Officers arrived within minutes and found the suspect outside the residence, where he was taken into custody without further incident, officials said. He was transported to a hospital for treatment before being booked into the Solano County jail.
Police said a witness later came forward reporting an encounter between the suspect and a child days before the break-in. Detectives determined there was probable cause for an additional arrest on a child-related charge. Authorities said no further details would be released due to the involvement of a minor.
The homeowner, police noted, “worked to protect his family while officers were responding to the scene.”
Jail records show bail was set at $35,000 in the initial case, with a court appearance scheduled for April 13. A separate April 13 booking lists bail at $25,000, with a court date set for April 14, according to jail records.