When a Doorbell Gets a Tongue… The Tale of a Slippery Intruder in Salinas
What Happened
Imagine rolling up the sidewalk in the middle of the night, expecting a simple good‑night kiss from a neighbor’s doorbell. Instead, you get a tongue‑slapping epic from a man who thinks a porch is the perfect playground.
Surveillance Saga
Retro‑fitted in the early 2020s, the Dungans’ motion‑sensor CCTV captured what could easily be mistaken for a block‑buster horror movie. A lanky, slippery fellow crept up the porch at 1:23 a.m. on Saturday, January 5th, and took a “French‑press” of the doorbell, basically delivering a comedic tongue‑lash that even a cat would love.
It Was a Three‑Hour Romp
- First 45 minutes – the doorbell stayed silent, taunting the audience.
- Mid‑episode – the intruder pauses for a quick pee‑break, then leans back for a 20‑minute nap.
- Final act – a brief, almost cautious, peek inside, but only the kids were home.
Feelings & Reactions
Police commander Matt Maldonado told the San Francisco Chronicle that the crook was “perverting the doorbell with a weird enthusiasm.” The Dungans, on the other hand, took it in stride.
“You end up laughing about it because, technically, he didn’t do anything,” Sylvia Dungan said. The family, light‑hearted as ever, joked that the week’s focus will now be “disinfecting doorbells” and “bleaching doorknobs.”
Under the Law
Police identified the night‑walker as Roberto Daniel Arroyo, 33, and charged him with trespassing, probation violation, and theft of extension cords from holiday decorations. The ex‑homeless man also faces past drug offenses and resisting arrest. He’s currently in custody, ready for questioning.
Wrap‑Up
In a town where the temperature is usually as mild as a pane of glass, a balcony and a doorbell turned into an unplanned comedy. The Dungans, though shaken, remind us all that sometimes the universe offers just the right dose of drama to keep life interesting.
