Thanks to DNA evidence, a Slidell man was arrested Friday for aggravated burglary in a case that occurred back in July 2004, according to the Slidell police authorities.

Police spokesman Capt. Kevin Swann said Glen T. Lopez, 22, 352 Oriole St., Slidell was booked with one count of aggravated burglary after a search at the State Combined DNA Index System matched his DNA and a sample taken from a pocket knife found at the scene of the burglary five years ago.

Swann said police were called to a house in Slidell July 30, 2004 by a woman who said someone had broken into her house. Police would not release the name of the victim, nor her address to protect her identity.

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The woman told police she woke up around 9 a.m. because she thought she heard a noise. When she went into the den of the house, she saw her dog looking at something, which turned out to be a man. The man fled the house, according to the woman. While waiting for police, the victim searched the room to see if anything was missing, and found a pocket knife lying on the floor. A detective was able to get several swabs of DNA evidence from the knife, and sent it to the State Police Crime Laboratory. Even though the DNA was successfully taken from the swabs, authorities did not find a match, and the DNA profile was placed in the state’s index system.

In late May of this year, Slidell police were informed that a match had been found on the evidence to Lopez. The detective who had originally gotten the DNA evidence obtained a warrant for Lopez.

Police found Lopez at the Slidell City Court Friday afternoon, and he was placed under arrest for aggravated burglary. Under questioning, Swann said Lopez confessed to the burglary. Lopez was booked and taken to the St. Tammany Jail where a bond was set.

Swann said that if convicted, Lopez could face up to 30 years in jail.