Man accused of entering off-duty officer's home

ARLINGTON, Mass. (WHDH) -- Police say an armed man broke into the home of an off-duty Arlington police officer Tuesday.

Joseph Maloof was arrested after being accused of breaking into the police officer’s home.

Prosecutors said the off-duty officer had a clear view of Maloof through his glass front door. Prosecutors said the officer, with his weapon drawn, went to the front door confronting Maloof, who was allegedly already in the entryway pounding on the door demanding to know where a man named John was.

Prosecutors said Maloof was armed with a baseball bat.

“The officer explained to him, ‘There’s nobody named John here. Who’s John?’” said prosecutor Larry Perchick. “Mr. Maloof again asked, ‘Where’s John?’ At that point Mr. Maloof said, ‘Go, go.’ And it’s unclear from the police report at this time, who exactly if anybody, he was yelling at.”

Maloof’s defense attorney said this wasn’t a home invasion because Maloof ran away. The alleged baseball bat belongs to the officer, who keeps it in his entryway, according to the defense. The defense added the officer left the door to the entryway unlocked.

“I suggest that because it was a police officer’s house the Commonwealth decided to take up the more serious charges they could think of, whether they fit the facts or not,” said defense attorney Dan Beck.

Maloof pleaded not guilty in court on Wednesday. He was held on $2,500 bail. Prosecutors said Maloof has been accused of a similar crime in the past.