Break-in, cop claim land man in jail

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A man claiming to be a cop broke into an East Mountains house startling a sleeping woman early Friday several hours before he was due in court on a previous alleged crime.

Bernalillo County sheriff's deputies say Michael Johnson, 35, broke into the Cedar Crest home about 2:30 a.m., shined a flash light in the face of the woman who lives there and said he was a police officer.

He asked her for money for gas, didn't get it and left without harming her.

Deputies found Johnson standing along State Route 14 with a backpack and a flashlight.

He said he went into the house looking for help because his car broke down.

The car, which was parked nearby, turned out to be stolen.

He's charged with burglary and auto theft.

Johnson was supposed to be in court Friday morning on a shoplifting charge.

On Saturday he remained in the Metropolitan Detention Center on a no-bond hold for violating the conditions of his release from jail on the earlier charge.