Richard Peterson wasn’t expecting company early Saturday morning.

But when Peterson woke at 6 a.m. to help his son prepare for his paper route, he found an uninvited guest sleeping on his living room couch.

Peterson, who lives at 312 E. Sixth St., said he was more than surprised to find the stranger in his home.

“I couldn’t believe that someone was there, and I knew I hadn’t invited anyone in,” Peterson said.

Peterson and his son exited through the back door and went to the Ames Police Department to report the intruder.

“We decided not to wake him up,” he said.

According to police reports, officers arrested Gary A. Buelt from Fort Dodge for public intoxication. Buelt could not be reached for comment.

“The doors were unlocked overnight, and the man must have been looking for a place to sleep. Mine happened to be the unlucky house he chose to enter,” Peterson said.

Peterson said he found the incident to be very disturbing. He said he now makes sure the doors are locked at night.