Deputies: Hilmar man says wanted to go to jail, so he broke into bank

A 24-year-old Hilmar man told investigators he smashed his way through a bank door late Tuesday because “he wanted to go to jail,” the Merced County Sheriff’s Office reported.

It was unclear exactly what Eduardo Luis Parra’s motive may have been, Sgt. Delray Shelton told the Sun-Star.

There were no reports of anything missing from the West America Bank on Lander Avenue. The break-in was reported at 9:44 p.m. Investigators said he smashed the glass door with a rock and the alarm alerted deputies. He was arrested without incident.

“He told (the deputies) he just wanted to go to jail,” Shelton said in a telephone interview.

Shelton said “it’s not uncommon” for people to claim they want to spend the night in jail.

“They’re still investigating the case, but it’s definitely not totally unheard of,” Shelton said. “Sometimes some people will want to escape the street life or want a meal, a shower, a place to sleep. Sometimes they’re under the influence of drugs or have mental health issues.”

Parra was booked into the John Latorraca Correctional Facility on suspicion of burglary and vandalism, both felonies. He was still in custody Wednesday night with bail set at $20,000, according to booking records.

Jail records show Parra was cited for public intoxication in 2014.

This story was originally published March 23, 2016 at 7:48 PM with the headline "Deputies: Hilmar man says wanted to go to jail, so he broke into bank."