Elf on the shelf or criminal in closet? Hiding home intruder calls out, “Ho! Ho! Ho!”

Dogs barking in a Sparta home alerted a resident of a Christmas criminal hiding in her closet Tuesday.

Trying to get into a closet and unable to open the door, residents and others at a home on Stelting Street noticed fingers sticking out, holding the door shut.

Then, from inside, a male said “Ho! Ho! Ho!” and warned their Christmas surprise would be ruined if they opened the door. According to Sparta police, the encounter began around 7:35 p.m.

The stranger fled when someone called 911, but not before taking some items from the garage. The man headed to another home. That resident was alerted by his dog barking, which scared off the intruder.

Responding officers tracked footprints in the snow to another nearby garage on Hill St.

Officers got the entry code to that garage, but as the overhead door began to open, it was promptly closed by someone inside pushing the close button. This was repeated several time before an officer distracted the suspect and entry was made.

Inside the garage, officers located Kabian B. Coleman, 32, of Rockland, Wis. Coleman ignored commands to comply with being handcuffed but was quickly taken into custody.

Police said Coleman appeared under the influence and later admitted to using drugs. He claimed he was on his way to turn himself in when officers started chasing him.

Coleman had an active warrant for his arrest from the Department of Corrections. He was also booked into the Monroe County Jail for resisting or obstructing an officer and trespassing. He said he was hiding in the home because it was cold outside.