South Boston Home Invasion Suspect Sent Tumbling Down Flight Of Stairs

SOUTH BOSTON (CBS) - A 25-year-old Revere man is facing charges over a violent home invasion in South Boston early Friday morning.

Police say Erick Lopez tried to force his way into an apartment on Harvest Terrace around 12:30 a.m.

The person in the apartment told officers he had heard someone continuously banging on the door of an apartment downstairs, so he opened the door to check it out.

Lopez, standing outside the door with a black Adidas jacket covering his head, allegedly charged the victim and forced his way inside the apartment.

Police say a violent struggle followed. The victim managed to push Lopez back out the apartment door, sending Lopez falling down a flight of stairs.

The suspect took off, leaving his jacket behind.

A short time later, arriving officers found Lopez a few blocks away wearing a torn black tank top and trying to climb a chain linked fence.

The victim positively identified him as the alleged attacker.

Lopez was arraigned on Friday. His court-appointed attorney said Lopez was drunk and was trying to get in after mistaking the apartment for his own.

Lopez faces Home Invasion and Assault and Battery charges. Bail was set at $500. Lopez was ordered to stay away from the victim, out of South Boston, and remain drug and alcohol free.