NORWICH – The Norwich Police Department responded to an armed burglary in progress early Saturday morning after a woman called 911 as a man with a knife forced his way into her apartment.

Norwich Police Chief Joseph Angelino said the crime was a domestic violence incident, explaining that the victim and defendant knew each other.

“These two people were not strangers. At one point they were involved in a relationship,” said Angelino.

Officers rushed to the disturbance at a multi-family dwelling on Cortland Street at around 5:30 a.m. Saturday and arrested Jose A. Irizarry, 28, of Elm Street, Norwich.

“It was determined that Irizarry had forced his way into the locked apartment, and once inside, menaced the victim with a knife,” reported Angelino.