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LIBERTY -- Officers are on the lookout for a man accused of attempting to kick down a woman's apartment door Thursday evening.
William Berch, 74, faces charges of attempted aggravated burglary and aggravated trespass in Girard Municipal Court.
According to the police report, an officer responded to a Gypsy Lane residence for a reported man with a knife, with dispatchers saying he was trying to get into someone's apartment, but he left as they gave other responding officers information.
The officer spoke with the caller/witness, who said his son walked up to their apartment and said a man was following him up the stairs with a knife, adding that he saw the suspect, later identified as Berch, banging on the door and windows, the report states.
The witness noted Berch had a large, hook-bladed knife in his hand, adding that he went outside and told Berch, who was sitting in a chair outside of the apartment, to leave -- but not before having a brief argument.
The witness confirmed Berch's identity "without hesitation" upon seeing a BMV photo of him, adding that he appeared very intoxicated, the report states.
The officer spoke with the woman residing in the apartment Berch attempted to enter, who said he tried breaking into her apartment by kicking the door in, the report states, adding that she heard multiple loud bangs and knew it was Berch.
The woman said she believed Berch was trying to break into her apartment, adding that he is obsessed with her and thinks she has other men in her apartment, the report states.
The officer noted that Berch was previously trespassed from the residence by himself and other Liberty officers, and that there was a history of violence between Berch and the woman, the report states.
The report states that the officer issued a be-on-the-lookout request to the Struthers and Youngstown police departments for Berch, requesting that they take him into custody if located.
The report states that Struthers officers found Berch's vehicle backed into his driveway, but they did not make contact with him.
The officer spoke with a juvenile who lived next door and recorded a portion of the incident on their cell phone.
Berch could be seen on the steps leaving while arguing with the witness, but the video's angle makes it unclear whether he has a knife in his hand.