Eden Prairie man accused of breaking into neighbor’s twin home through shared wall

An Eden Prairie man has been charged with multiple offenses after police say he broke through the wall of his twin home into a neighboring unit, alarming the family inside, according to a criminal complaint filed in Hennepin County District Court.

Darryl Keith Smoleroff, 42, faces charges of fourth-degree burglary, third-degree property damage, five counts of fifth-degree assault, and disorderly conduct for the Dec. 16 incident in the 7200 block of Bagpipe Boulevard.

According to the complaint, Eden Prairie police were called to the area around 4:45 p.m. after receiving a report of a man banging on the outside of a house and looking through a second-floor bedroom window. Officers arrived and were informed by a family member that the man, later identified as Smoleroff, had entered their home and was hiding in a basement closet.

Police called for Smoleroff to come out. He complied, appearing at the bottom of the basement stairs with his hands raised. A pat-down search revealed a butter knife in his pocket. Smoleroff declined to speak with police, the complaint states.

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A family member told police she awoke to her brother yelling that someone had been looking through their sister’s bedroom window. The sister told police she saw the window open further, the curtain move, and then made eye contact with the intruder before he left. She noted that her bedroom is on the second floor, which made the intrusion unusual.

Shortly after, the brother and their mother went to Smoleroff’s twin home unit to speak with him. Soon after, the family heard banging from the brother’s bedroom, followed by a loud crash that sounded like a window breaking. The family ran outside but returned because of the cold. Upon reentering, they discovered a large hole in the bedroom wall that connected their unit to Smoleroff’s.

The complaint states Smoleroff then appeared in their hallway, allegedly saying, “Where is she? There was a person trying to break into my house. Can you guys help me find her?” The family, recognizing him as their neighbor, briefly helped him search upstairs but became concerned he might have a weapon. They left the house, describing Smoleroff as “frantic.”

Another occupant said Smoleroff later entered their home uninvited and asked, “Where is he, the man?” before leaving abruptly. Moments later, her daughter reported seeing someone at a window. When the mother and her son tried to speak with Smoleroff at his door, he did not respond. As they walked back, another family member ran outside yelling that someone was inside the house.

Police conducted a welfare check of Smoleroff’s home and found extensive damage, including multiple holes in the walls and a large hole connecting his unit to the neighbors’. Officers also noted broken dishes, vomit on the floor, and significant damage to the kitchen and second-floor bedroom, where it appeared someone had fallen through the ceiling.

Smoleroff posted $6,000 bail on Dec. 18. His first court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 8 at the Hennepin County District Court’s Ridgedale location in Minnetonka.

Ryan Garry, Smoleroff’s attorney, did not respond to a request for comment.