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Police find 6-foot-long python, guns and squatter in Falls Church home Police find 6-foot-long python, guns and squatter in Falls Church home
(35 minutes later)
The large snake crawling occasionally on some windows at the abandoned house hadn’t alarmed the next door neighbors.The large snake crawling occasionally on some windows at the abandoned house hadn’t alarmed the next door neighbors.
But police were called after shots were fired into a neighbor’s home — one bullet hitting a living room wall and another landing on the bathroom floor.But police were called after shots were fired into a neighbor’s home — one bullet hitting a living room wall and another landing on the bathroom floor.
And when Fairfax County police arrived Monday in the 2000 block of Cherri Drive, they found a man, some guns and a 6-foot-long python inside the derelict home.And when Fairfax County police arrived Monday in the 2000 block of Cherri Drive, they found a man, some guns and a 6-foot-long python inside the derelict home.
The man was later identified as Michael Stride of no fixed address. He was apparently living as a squatter in the home, which neighbors said was slated for demolition.The man was later identified as Michael Stride of no fixed address. He was apparently living as a squatter in the home, which neighbors said was slated for demolition.
Police arrested and charged Stride with “shooting into an occupied dwelling.”Police arrested and charged Stride with “shooting into an occupied dwelling.”
Animal control officers came and took the snake into their custody, officials said. The incident remains under investigation. Fox 5 was among the first to report it.Animal control officers came and took the snake into their custody, officials said. The incident remains under investigation. Fox 5 was among the first to report it.
A neighbor — Ralph Phipps who lives next door to the vacant home — told the station that he was awoken by a loud noise. Initially, he said he thought a branch had fallen onto his home. A neighbor — Ralph Phipps who lives next door to the vacant home — told the station that he was awakened by a loud noise. Initially, he said he thought a branch had fallen onto his home.
Phipps said he took a flashlight and looked around at the home’s ceiling. He didn’t see anything.Phipps said he took a flashlight and looked around at the home’s ceiling. He didn’t see anything.
But as he was in the bathroom, he said he heard another loud noise, according to Fox 5. And then a bullet “came through the door and just dropped to the floor next to me,” Phipps said.But as he was in the bathroom, he said he heard another loud noise, according to Fox 5. And then a bullet “came through the door and just dropped to the floor next to me,” Phipps said.
It is not immediately clear, according to the police statement, why the shots were fired.It is not immediately clear, according to the police statement, why the shots were fired.
Still, Phipps said he wasn’t too surprised at the snake inside the home next door.Still, Phipps said he wasn’t too surprised at the snake inside the home next door.
Phipps said he had noticed someone was inside the vacant home for about the past five months, but had no interactions with the man. A few things he did notice — occasionally, he saw candlelight coming from inside the home.Phipps said he had noticed someone was inside the vacant home for about the past five months, but had no interactions with the man. A few things he did notice — occasionally, he saw candlelight coming from inside the home.
And, oh, the snake.And, oh, the snake.
“We had seen the snake two or three times crawling up the window in one of the bedrooms,” Phipps told Fox 5.“We had seen the snake two or three times crawling up the window in one of the bedrooms,” Phipps told Fox 5.
His reaction: “That’s the way some people are. Some people like snakes.”His reaction: “That’s the way some people are. Some people like snakes.”