Seasonal UPS delivery man pleads not guilty to Christmas Eve burglary attempt

A 25-year-old seasonal UPS worker pleaded not guilty Monday to charges that he tried to break into a Glendale apartment in his assigned delivery area, authorities said.

Around 5:15 p.m. on Christmas Eve, officers responded to an apartment building in the 200 block of South Jackson Street, where a woman had reportedly seen a man trying to break in through her window, said Glendale Police spokeswoman Tahnee Lightfoot.

When confronted by her and her husband, the suspect, identified as Kenneth Prieto, reportedly said, “I’m a UPS driver, bro,” and started to talk on his cellphone.

The pair called the police when Prieto ignored their request to see his badge.

When police arrived, they reportedly saw Prieto carrying a bat and a window screen. As the officers attempted to contact him, he fled, and in doing so, rammed into a 74-year-old woman in his way, Lightfoot said.

The woman was taken to the hospital — and later released — after she fell and slammed her head on the concrete as a result of Prieto running into her, Lightfoot said.

Officers caught up with Prieto after he jumped over a wall and ran into an apartment complex in the 200 block of South Louise Street.

Prieto reportedly began throwing punches at the officers, which resulted in one officer breaking his hand trying to detain the man.

Witnesses reported seeing Prieto earlier wearing a UPS shirt. Officers discovered the shirt next to the curb on the same block where the burglary took place.

Additionally, the woman who lived in the apartment said a man in a UPS uniform, believed to be Prieto, came to her apartment sometime during the past week and asked if a Barnes and Noble package belonged to her, Lightfoot said.

She had said it wasn’t hers, but thought the visit was suspicious.

Detectives reportedly confirmed that Prieto was hired by UPS as a holiday helper. He had been making deliveries for about three weeks, Lightfoot said. He had been assigned on Christmas Eve to the Glendale neighborhood where the burglary attempt occurred, Lightfoot said.

He was charged with one count each of first-degree burglary with a person present, resisting an executive officer and battery.

He is being held in lieu of $75,000 bail and due in court next week.