The woman called police around 7:35 p.m. Dec. 10 after her barking dogs led her to a bedroom closet. Police said she and another family member tried and failed to open the door. From beneath it, they said they could see fingers sticking out, holding the door shut.
"From inside the closet, a male said 'Ho Ho Ho!' and warned they would ruin their Christmas surprise if they opened the door," police said Monday in a news release.
While a resident called 911, police said Coleman fled to a nearby garage, where he removed some items before fleeing for another residence. Barking dogs at the second home prompted him to flee again, according to authorities.
Responding officers found Coleman's footprints in the snow and followed them to another garage, officials said. Police were able to get the entry code for the garage, but when they tried to open the door, Coleman quickly pressed the button to close it again.
"This was repeated several (times) before an officer distracted the suspect and entry was made," police said.
Authorities said Coleman appeared to be intoxicated and later admitted to using unspecified drugs. Police said he claimed he was on his way to turn himself in when officers began to chase him.
Coleman was booked into Monroe County Jail. Police said he was also wanted on a warrant from the Department of Corrections. Records from Wisconsin Circuit Court show Coleman was convicted in December 2018 of several domestic violence-related charges in Monroe County.
Citing statements from witnesses and Coleman, police said they don't believe he "intended on harming anyone."
"He said he was hiding in the home because it was cold outside," authorities said.
Preliminary data from the National Weather Service shows the high temperature Dec. 10 in Sparta was 14 degrees while the low was 0 degrees.
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