Alleged stalker busted in Planada attic

A man hiding in an attic was arrested on stalking charges after sheriff's deputy Rosalie Rios was sent to a possible domestic violence incident Sunday in Planada.

The call came from the 8000 block of Topeka. The victim said she put her cell phone on a charger Saturday when she went to bed. When she woke up on Sunday, the phone was gone. She was also unable to find her camera in the house, but when she left that morning, she found it on her car seat in the garage, not where she left it.

When she returned home around 8 p.m. she noticed brown debris on the carpet under the attic access in her house. She also heard a noise and called the sheriff's office.

When deputies arrived, they called up into the attic for her ex-boyfriend, Miguel Lua, 27, to come out.

Lua had been served with a restraining order earlier in the month and wasn't supposed to be at the house, according to a news release.

After several attempts, no one came out, so deputy Larry Hudec climbed into the attic and found Lua under some insulation. He also found several burnt candles, a coat and shoes. It appeared as if Lua had been up there for some time, according to the news release.

After being brought down, Lua said he had been in the attic since about 6 p.m. and didn't plan to come down until he had to go to work the following day at 5 a.m.

Lua also admitted to taking the victim's phone and camera to see if she had been calling other men or taking pictures of them.

Lua was booked on charges of stalking, burglary, violating a court order and obstructing a peace officer.

He remains on $207,000 bail.

-- Sun-Star Staff

This story was originally published December 13, 2010 at 10:32 AM with the headline "Alleged stalker busted in Planada attic."