WATERVILLE – A Waterville man was arrested Friday after he broke into a woman’s home, ransacked her kitchen and covered himself in soap, police said.

Edwell Gethers, 34, of Elm Street was arrested after he climbed through an open window into a house on Chaplin Street, said Deputy Police Chief Charles Rumsey. The woman awoke to find Gethers in her room, shirtless and covered in soap from her bathroom.

The woman told police that she doesn’t know Gethers.

Rumsey said Gethers made a mess in the victim’s kitchen, emptying her spice rack and throwing the spice jars through the window.

“He also emptied a jar of pickles onto the floor,” he said.

Rumsey said Gethers then went into the woman’s bathroom and covered himself and the bathroom with soap and water before entering the bedroom.

When the woman confronted Gethers, who was wearing cargo shorts and no shirt, he didn’t make sense, Rumsey said.

“The victim said he was speaking incomprehensible gibberish,” he said.

The woman called 911 before Gethers grabbed the phone and removed the battery. Gethers left after she made the call, Rumsey said.

Police responded to the 911 hangup.

Gethers left the house on foot and an officer found him walking in the middle of Main Street, waving his arms in the air, Rumsey said.

He said it’s not known if Gethers was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Gethers is charged with burglary, criminal mischief, obstructing the report of a crime and violating conditions of his release.

He was unable to make the $1,000 cash bail and was taken to the Kennebec County jail. His court date in Kennebec County Superior Court is Oct. 15. 

Jesse Scardina can be contacted at 861-9239 or at:

jscardina@mainetoday.com