MIDDLETON (WKOW) -- Police arrested a woman Tuesday night after authorities say she broke into an elderly person's Middleton apartment and injured the woman.
Middleton Police Lieutenant Steve Ziegler said in a Nixle police arrived to the Heritage Senior Campus at 6206 Maywood Avenue around 11 p.m. for a report of an active disturbance.
The caller said there was a woman damaging property there, and when officers arrived, they saw the suspect climbing down from the patio of the victim's apartment.
The 77-year-old victim told officers that the woman -- identified as Clarisa Herra, 20, of Madison -- forced her way into the apartment by climbing up to the patio and damaging the sliding glass door.
Once inside, Herrera reportedly damaged items in the residence and attacked the victim who was sitting in a recliner.
Authorities say upon being arrested, Herrera fought with police.
She was arrested for multiple felonies, including battery to an elderly person, burglary, criminal damage to property and throw/expel bodily substances.
She was booked into the Dane County Jail Wednesday morning and transferred later that day. Dane County Sheriff's officials say they cannot comment on whether Herrera was hospitalized, committed to a mental health institution or placed elsewhere.
Police say the victim and Herrera do no know each other, and this was a random act. Police say there is no ongoing threat to the public.
A Heritage Senior Living official said a broken window covered with plywood at the building was damaged in connection to the incident.
"Disturbing," said Ron Merhoff, whose mother lives at Heritage. "That is a very vulnerable population."
Merhoff said he remains satisfied with facility security. "There's staff in there all the time."
Authorities said the victim was hospitalized for a time and is recovering.
“We are aware that a 77-year-old female resident at Heritage Middleton Senior Apartments was attacked by an intruder who entered her apartment on Tuesday evening," Heritage Senior Living Spokesperson Amy Littleton said. " This is an independent living apartment building. We have reached out to all residents to offer support and provide safety reminders.”
Littleton said there are fifty-eight apartments in the independent living section of the campus. She said the intruder only came into contact with the one victim.
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