Autauga County, Alabama



From the Montgomery Advertiser of January 7, 2004

Man foils burglary, 2 arrested



Michael Spearman got a rude awakening Tuesday morning when the north Autauga County man heard a noise and rose to find two men rifling through his gun cabinet.



Armed with a .357-caliber Magnum revolver, Spearman confronted the invaders in his home on Autauga County Road 59. He fired once at a burglar as he fled but kept the other at gunpoint until sheriff's deputies arrived. A second man was captured about two hours later following a manhunt that included deputies from two counties, state troopers, a state police helicopter and a dog tracking team from the Alabama Department of Corrections.

...



Authorities believe the suspects were driving around, looking for homes to break into. Johnson believes three burglaries in Autauga County can be attributed to them, and his office is working with the Chilton County Sheriff's Department to see if more cases can be made.



Spearman downplayed his role.



"I just heard a noise and knew something was wrong," he said. "I didn't know what to think when I saw two men in my house. One just kept advancing at me. I had to do something."



Johnson praised the actions of the homeowner.



"I'm proud of him; he did a good job," the sheriff said. "Every person has the right to defend themselves and their homes. This man had the presence of mind to handle the situation. He captured one suspect and was able to give us a good description of the other. Thanks to him, we will probably clear up several burglaries."



Autauga County deputies recovered firearms, jewelry and electronics in the car the suspects were using. Burglaries of occupied homes are "extremely rare" in the county, Johnson said.



"They happen, but not very often," he said. "Criminals know folks in Autauga County have guns and know how to use them."