Rittman, Ohio

From the Wooster Daily Record of April 10, 2007

Break-in Part II: McComas home hit Saturday

The West Sunset Drive man who set a trap to catch the person he said was stealing from him faced another burglar Saturday morning.

This time, the 78-year-old William Kenneth McComas lost the struggle for the gun and sustained muscle strains and bruises on the back, neck and head.

He was treated and released from WRH Health Systems, where he was transported by Rittman Emergency Medical Services.

A few hours after the incident, Casey Wood, 18, of Fairlawn Avenue, and Charles Mattingly, 21, of Fourth Street, were arrested, police Chief Larry Boggs said.

Wood is being held on a burglary charge with a $10,000 bond, while Mattingly faces a charge of receiving stolen property and $5,000 bond.

Saturday's incident is the second time in a week McComas faced an intruder, but police say it appears to be unrelated. On March 31, McComas waited in the dark with a handgun and a telephone for a man he suspected of stealing from his home.

Chris Lively, 26, of Front Street, was arrested in that incident. McComas held a gun on Lively until the police arrived a few minutes later.

The most recent incident began about 6:30 a.m., by McComas' recollection. He heard someone hitting the newly installed unbreakable glass on his kitchen door. He said he looked out the window to see if there was a car in his driveway, but saw none and went back to bed.

Moments later, the wood on the kitchen door gave way to a kick, and an intruder burst into McComas' bedroom door.

Later at the police station, McComas identified the man who he saw in the bedroom as Wood. He recalled performing Wood's father's wedding some years before and remembered meeting the young man, he said.

The police press release said Wood and Mattingly entered the home, but McComas said he remembers seeing only Wood.

When Wood burst in the bedroom door, he called McComas by name and shouted to give him his money and billfold, McComas said.

McComas said he pulled a firearm out from under the bedcovers, but was holding the barrel.

The intruder struggled for the gun. McComas let go because he was afraid the younger man would shoot him, McComas said. He said his body was twisted during the struggle, resulting in the bruises and muscle strains.

The man threatened to kill him and claimed to be on crack, McComas said.

The intruder left with about $500 in cash, medication and the handgun, McComas said.

McComas dialed for the police as Wood walked out the door. He recalled Wood turning around, spying the phone and calling out, "I love you, Kenny."

Four police officers arrived two minutes after getting the call at 6:38 a.m., Boggs said.

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From the Akron Beacon Journal of April 10, 2007

Retired preacher aiming to stop intruders

Rittman man confronts burglars twice in a week

Dr. Kenny McComas has dealt with some rather notorious criminals during his decades of prison counseling, including a face-to-face meeting with Robert Kennedy's assassin, Sirhan Sirhan.

But the retired Baptist preacher is working now at the other end of the law-enforcement spectrum -- he's catching crime suspects.

Helping to rehabilitate criminals was a choice for McComas, while catching suspects became a matter of self-defense for the 77-year-old Rittman resident who still holds a Bible in one hand but packs big-time heat in the other.

McComas used a lay-in-wait tactic with a loaded gun and a telephone in the master bedroom of his modest ranch to apprehend an intruder during an afternoon break-in March 31.

McComas wasn't quite as effective Saturday, however, when he was accosted in his bedroom at 6:30 a.m. But less than 10 hours later, Rittman police had arrested Rittman residents Casey P. Wood, 18, and Charles W. Mattingly, 21, on the strength of leads that McComas provided.

McComas said he had hired both men to perform odd jobs around his home in the 500 block of West Sunset Drive.

The two break-ins were the latest in a string of seven since July at McComas' home next door to Calvary Baptist Church.

(Lots More)