SHEFFIELD — Warrants were issued Monday for a Huntsville man accused of breaking into one local apartment and trying to break into another.

Marcus Lamont Carroll, 42, 2216 Viscount Drive, Northwest, Huntsville, is charged with first-degree burglary, attempted first-degree burglary and a felon in possession of a pistol, Sheffield Police Chief Greg Ray said Monday.

Reports indicate Carroll is accused of breaking into a residence in the Montgomery Block Apartments in the 400 block of Montgomery Avenue on Friday, and trying to break into a second one before he was caught.

“Why he picked those apartments we don’t know, but he broke into one apartment and found out the occupant was there. He left and tried to break into another one, where the occupant was also there,” Sheffield detective Bobby McCalpin said. “I think the occupants being there scared him and he ran off.”

McCalpin said one of the residents called police and when Sgt. Ray Terry and officers Trent Anthony and Joe Haynes arrived they caught Carroll coming out of the apartment complex.

McCalpin said Carroll didn’t take anything from either apartments but while the officers were checking him they did find something they weren’t expecting.

“He had a .22-caliber pistol tied to a string around his waist that was hanging inside his pants,” McCalpin said. “I’m just glad no one got hurt.”

Reports indicate Carroll is on probation from a third-degree burglary conviction in Huntsville.

He was being held in the Sheffield City Jail on Monday without bail.

Tom Smith can be reached at 256-740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.