LaCrosse, Wisconsin

From the LaCrosse Tribune of June 8, 2005

City man stops truck burglary in progress

Having his truck broken into three times in the past month was too much for Brian Sidie.

So when Sidie saw someone in the cab of his pickup about 11 p.m. Monday, he took action.

While getting a drink in his kitchen that night, Sidie glanced outside to see a young man walking down the street.

He turned away, thinking it was a neighbor, but took one more look before going back to bed. This time, the young man was in his pickup.

Sidie grabbed his rifle and headed outside. "I came around the front of my truck and slapped my hand on the hood. He just shot up and looked at me," Sidie said. "I told him, ‘You aren't going anywhere.'"

Careful never to point the gun at the young man, Sidie pushed the pickup door closed and refused to let the man go.

Sidie's wife called La Crosse police, who said they arrived to find Daryl A. Sumlar, 17, inside the truck.

Sidie said he has lost more than $500 worth of property in the previous thefts. In this case, the intruder caused $200 in damage to Sidie's stereo system, police said.

Sumlar, of Sparta, Wis., was charged Tuesday with entry to a locked vehicle, criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct, all misdemeanors.