The incident went down this previous Sunday night, round 11:30pm, whereas a patrol deputy was making his rounds in a Deltona neighborhood. Whereas out, he got here throughout a person who the Volusia County Sheriff’s Workplace stated in a press launch was “trying to hide his face.”

The person — later recognized as 20-year-old Jalen Vallejos — was sporting layers of darkish clothes and had a ski masks on high of his head, regardless of it being 76 levels out, in keeping with a possible trigger arrest affidavit.

When requested why he was overlaying his face in bodycam video of his arrest, Vallejos says “it is sort of chilly out.” He additionally tells the deputy that he was “simply taking a stroll,” including he generally cannot sleep … earlier than handing over a knife he was carrying, in addition to his pockets.

The deputy then reads him his Miranda rights, earlier than asking Vallejos to point out him his ski masks and gloves. After emptying his pockets, one in every of which contained a lock decide, the person is then positioned in handcuffs. He was detained after deputies noticed the lock decide, per the legal criticism, as a result of there had been a rise in automotive thefts within the space.

Stealing automobiles, nevertheless, is not what Vallejos had in thoughts.

When requested by authorities what he is doing, he tells them, “Going to my ex’s home. Simply to look at her, sir. Break in, sir.”

He then admits they do not get alongside, earlier than he is requested whether or not he was going to make use of his knife on her on the house. “No sir,” he replies, insisting he did not need to harm her. When requested his intentions, he then says he is “unsure,” earlier than revealing he suffers from anxiousness.

After being positioned in a cruiser, he is requested if there’s an opportunity he might have used the knife at his ex’s house. Vallejos says, “Sure,” including that he would use it for “self protection if her father got here out.” He additionally insists he had no intention of stabbing his ex, saying the knife was purely for self protection functions.

“You wished to interrupt in and simply watch her whereas she was sleeping?” asks the deputy. “I am unsure. I do not break in, I simply watch her from the [outside],” he says, including that he did the identical factor “a pair months in the past” and introduced the lock decide in case the fence across the house was locked. Per the sheriff, Vallejos “admitted he has been visiting his ex’s home and watching her sleep for six to eight months.”

It is then he is requested if he believes his habits might escalate “to the purpose it might turn out to be bodily violent towards her,” he shakes his head sure and says, “I am afraid.” Vallejos then admits to having his dad’s truck close by, telling the deputy they will discover a sledgehammer inside as properly. When requested his plans for the sledgehammer, he stated he was “most likely gonna use it,” earlier than clarifying he would apply it to the entrance door or, probably, “self-defense.”

Based on the Sheriff, in addition they discovered a backpack containing duct tape, wire cutters and spray paint contained in the truck. They declare Vallejos later admitted he vandalized his ex’s house again in April, as properly.

The ex-girlfriend instructed deputies the 2 broke up six months in the past after a two-year relationship and she or he now not wished to have contact with Vallejos, claiming he stored calling her and displaying up at her house uninvited. She and her father additionally stated somebody spray painted the storage at their house again in April — and, when instructed concerning the knife, sledgehammer and break-in instruments, stated they have been “in concern for his or her lives.”

Vallejos was charged with aggravated stalking, tried armed housebreaking, loitering or prowling, possession of housebreaking instruments, and legal mischief. He stays behind bars with out bond.