Police: Man Breaks Into Locked Art Studio, Claims He Was 'Appreciating the Art'

An Iowa City man was stopped by a studio owner and arrested after he broke into an art studio Friday evening, according to police. 

Christian Fleming, 20, of 1024 S. Walnut St., Iowa City, was charged with third-degree burglary, a Class D Felony, after he allegedly broke into an art studio secured by a deadbolt on one door and a padlock on the other.

Police say they were called to 1022 Walnut Street at 5:31 p.m. to respond to a report of a man who had broken into a locked art studio and rummaged through the art. When the officers arrived, they say they were told that Fleming had been caught by the property owner sorting through the art in the studio after bypassing the locked doors.

Once confronted, Fleming reportedly told the owners that he was just looking at the art and that he was homeless, but when the owners threatened to call the police he took off running. Fleming was chased down by the property owner about four to five blocks away, according to the complaint.

Police say that Fleming admitted to being in the building and that the doors he had gone through had been locked. Fleming told police he had only been in the studio "appreciating the art."