Open window reveals new boyfriend

A Carlsbad police officer who was arrested on suspicion of two felonies, first-degree burglary and stalking, was ordered released from custody on April 11. Instead of the felony charges, Jeffry Edwards, 37, was instead arraigned on one misdemeanor count of “aggravated trespassing.”

A prosecutor said that Edwards dated a certain female for one year, and after she ended their relationship, he went to her home in Oceanside. Edwards reportedly opened a window to the woman’s bedroom, but her new boyfriend was sleeping there, and when that man asked “What was going on?” the intruder fled, a prosecutor alleged in court yesterday.

The prosecutor remarked that the charge against the defendant could change again, after a more complete review of evidence.

Edwards was represented by the public defender’s office Wednesday when he pleaded not guilty to the one charge. The defense attorney told the judge that the 37-year-old man “already served 18 years for our country” and “he has a home here” and no criminal record.

Honorable judge Robert Dahlquist was persuaded to release Edwards on his own recognizance. The judge issued a protection order for a named woman.

Oceanside police arrested Edwards for burglarizing a home in the 3500 block of Windrift Way,where his ex-girlfriend lived. “It was determined that Edwards had been stalking the victim,” according to officer Tom Bussey, of the Oceanside police. Bussey stated that Edwards was found in San Clemente and taken into custody about 8:15 p.m. on April 6, “without incident.”

The accused cop was held in custody in San Diego’s downtown central jail since his arrest last Friday, in lieu of $500,000 bail. It is likely that Edwards would be sentenced to “time served” if he is eventually found guilty of one misdemeanor.