Police: Burglar found asleep on victim’s couch holding knife

A Mount Dora woman said she woke up to find an alleged burglar asleep on her couch and holding one of her kitchen knives.

The burglary suspect, 26-year-old Duane Immich, was booked into the Lake County Jail. According to police, Immich burglarized several nearby businesses before making his way into the woman’s home.

“I was in my kitchen going to make coffee and I heard snoring,” victim Judith Smolinski said.

Smolinski said she was immediately startled by the snoring because she lives alone.

“I walked in the living room and there was a strange man on my couch curled up, covered up with my blanket,” Smolinski said.

It was Immich on her couch and he had broke in during the night after going on a burglary spree, according to investigators. Smolinski said the man even took a beer from her refrigerator before going to sleep on the couch.

“He had one open beer on my coffee table,” Smolinski said.

Immich has a criminal history that includes arrests for grand theft, drug possession and aggravated assault. Smolinski didn’t know if the suspect was armed until a police officer woke him up by removing the blanket.

“She discovered he had my butcher knife on his chest and he was holding it with one of his hands,” Smolinski said.

Police said they found evidence on Immich that linked him to three other burglaries and a car break-in. He’s being held at the jail with no bond.