Bellmorite charged with breaking into Merrick teen’s home

With 20 teens by his side, a 20-year old Bellmore man broke down the door of a Merrick home early Saturday morning, intending to assault a 17-year-old resident inside, according to police. The suspect, Joseph Horan, of Boundary Road, was arrested the next day and charged with burglary and criminal mischief.

The incident occurred on July 30 to 12:50 a.m. Only Horan entered the home, according to police. Authorities said the father of the intended victim scared Horan off with a baseball bat. The alleged assailant then ran out of the Frankel Boulevard home to a waiting car and drove off. No injuries were reported.

Police did not release a motive in this incident. Horan was set to be arraigned on Monday.