Mother calls deputies on vagrant son

A deputy encountered a burglar hiding in the closet of a home Wednesday, authorities said.

The deputy responded to a call of a residential burglary shortly before 10 a.m. at 436 Washington Ave.

During a security check, Dennis Welch, 40, was found hiding in a closet, deputies said.

His mother, Catherine Ericksen, called authorities because Welch, who is homeless, was not authorized to be inside the house, according to an arrest report. She was not aware her son was still inside.

No valuables were stolen and it had appeared Welch was there to eat food and use the shower, deputies said.

Ericksen said she called the Hernando County Sheriff's Office in the past about her son and has had her locks changed, according to the report.

She allowed her son to live in the house for a couple nights recently when temperatures approached freezing, but when he asked to spend the night again Tuesday, she refused, deputies said.

Welch owns two bags of clothes, which Ericksen leaves under the carport, according to the report.

The deputy was scanning one of the rooms in the house when she heard Ericksen scream. Welch was hiding in one of the grandchildren's rooms, authorities said.

Welch, who was arrested and charged with burglary of a dwelling, said he ducked into the closet after he heard his mother pull into the driveway. He also told deputies he lived at the house, according to the report.