Charge filed in theft from unconscious man

Charge filed in theft from unconscious man A Minneapolis man is charged with theft, accused of stealing from a Burnsville man found unconscious in a Minneapolis skyway on New Year's Day.

Lontrez Osby Thomas, 22, was charged Tuesday with theft from a person for allegedly taking $110 in casino chips from James Houx.

Thomas told police he found Houx lying in the skyway near the Target Center but didn't know how Houx was knocked out.

Minneapolis police aren't anticipating more charges in the case, said Sgt. Jesse Garcia, a spokesman, but it remains open.

Thomas was to appear in court on Wednesday and is being held in lieu of $10,000 bail. He also was being held on suspicion of burglary.

Houx was found with blood coming from his mouth and spent at least six weeks comatose with severe brain swelling, said his ex-wife, Joan Houx. But Houx, 48, is out of the hospital and learning how to talk and walk again, his ex-wife said. "We couldn't be happier with his progress," she added.

James Houx recently had a portion of skull that had been removed to help relieve swelling put back in. "He looks a lot better because his head is round again," his ex-wife said.

VINCE TUSS

Two arrested after Hopkins home invasion Two men were in jail Tuesday, awaiting charges after allegedly bursting into an occupied Hopkins home while armed with handguns.

Police were called at 5:44 p.m. Monday to the home in the 100 block of Van Buren Avenue S. after neighbors spotted two men enter it and then heard screaming.

Police arrested one armed man while the second jumped from a second-story window and escaped, but was quickly caught.

Harley Hopkins Family Center, 125 Monroe Av. S., was briefly locked down during the chase. The school reopened at 6:07 p.m. One male from the home reported minor facial injuries that were treated by paramedics. He later sought treatment at a local hospital.

ABBY SIMONS