Police: Man connected to home invasion by DNA

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a 25-year-old Rochester man facing a string of charges in connection with a home invasion in December.

Charles Antonio Gayles, no permanent address, is charged with attempted aggravated robbery in the first degree, two counts of first-degree burglary and one count of making terroristic threats.

Authorities linked Gayles to the crime through DNA in a hat found on the ground outside the residence where the incident occurred.

The complaint said that on Dec. 20, 2006, officers were sent to a northeast Rochester residence to investigate a home invasion robbery that had just occurred. No time is given.

A man said he had gone downstairs to borrow a cigarette from his roommate and saw two men coming in the door that separates the basement of his home and the garage. The man said he saw that one of them had on a mask. He said he tried to shut the door, but one of the suspects put a gun to his head and forced him to the ground. He said the suspects forced him to give up the combination to his safe. He said the suspects tried to go upstairs to where the safe was located, but his dogs scared them away and they fled.

The victim's roommate said he was awakened by the other man yelling for help. He said he walked out of his basement level bedroom and saw the other man being held to the ground with a gun to his head. He said both suspects had on masks. He said he recognized one of the suspects by voice as Gayles, someone he is acquainted with.

A hat was found outside the residence near the sidewalk. It was frost free and authorities said they believed it had recently been left on the ground. The hat was sent to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for analysis. The DNA profile obtained from the hat matches the DNA profile on file for Gayles, the complaint said.