Ex-Boyfriend Tries to Break Into Wrong Home

CHELMSFORD - After hearing her dog bark, a Kennedy Drive woman opened her front door on Wednesday afternoon and came face-to-face with a stranger.
Chelmsford police say Louis C. Romani 38, of Chelmsford, was trying to break into the home, but he had the wrong unit. Police allege Romani's ex-girlfriend lives in the unit next door.

As Romani allegedly fled the scene, police converged on the area looking for a man wearing a dark sweatshirt, pants and N.E. Patriots hat. On Edwards Place, police spotted the suspect, who ran after seeing the police cruiser.A foot pursuit ensued with the officer close on his heels. Romani was tackled and then struggled with officers who tried to handcuff him, police allege.

Police spoke with Romani's ex-girlfriend who said Romani was prohibited from coming to her home after the relationship ended two weeks earlier due to Romani's alleged drug abuse.

Romani allegedly told police he was unable to enter his girlfriend's home and fled when the police arrived.

Romani is being held on $2,000 cash bail after pleading not guilty to charges of attempt to commit a crime, resisting arrest and assault and battery on a police officer. His next court date is a pretrial conference on March 10.