Sharon, Pennsylvania

From the Sharon Herald of July 24, 2006

Man catches would-be thieves

A Sharon man turned the table on two would-be burglars when he came home in the middle of their attempt to steal several items from his home, police said.

Police said Joseph R. Emerich, 22, of 3009 Hahn Hill Road, Hermitage, and Brett D. Sumner, 28, of 3045 Main St., West Middlesex, were burglarizing 24 Smith Ave. in Sharon when Charles Carlo returned home at 9:35 p.m. Sunday to find them at the top of his stairs.

They had taken a computer, a videogame player, a mint set of coins and an air conditioner from Carlo’s home to a nearby apartment and were attempting to take more, police said.

Carlo told them to stop, retrieved his 9 mm pistol and fired one shot after he noticed that one of the men had something in his hands, but did not hit either man, police said.

After Carlo fired, Sumner jumped out a second-story window and ran; Carlo held Emerich at gunpoint until police arrived, they said.

Police said they arrested Emerich immediately and found Sumner at 10:50 p.m. at South Irvine Avenue and Emmanuel Place.

Emerich and Sumner were arraigned Monday by District Judge Ronald E. Antos, Farrell, on charges of burglary, criminal trespassing and criminal conspiracy and released on their own recognizance.