A Roanoke Rapids man wanted in a February residential break-in was arrested after he was found hiding in a pile of dirty laundry.

Detective R. Somogyi of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office developed Travis Purnell, 22, as the suspect in the case, in which a firearm was stolen from the property owner.

Roanoke Rapids police served the warrant since Purnell lived in the city limits. When Sergeant Richard White and Officer Chris Biggerstaff came to serve the warrant, Purnell allegedly hid inside the house under dirty clothes because he did not want to go to jail, Somogyi said.

Purnell faces charges of breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering, larceny of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm and possession of stolen goods. He was also charged with resisting a public officer for allegedly hiding.

The weapon was returned to its owner and Purnell was jailed on $21,000 bond and has a July 25 court date.