FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
Wednesday, May 17, 2017
Two in Custody After Home Invasion
Sheriff Mitch Ralston Reports:
At about 8:15pm tonight, deputy sheriffs were dispatched to a private residence in the Pine Chapel community in north-central (unincorporated) Gordon County in response to a report of a home invasion. Deputies arrived within minutes and found one of the perpetrators incapacitated in the house. A second suspect was chased into a nearby, thickly wooded area by a group of armed neighbors who held him until deputies placed him under arrest. The responding officers determined that the two suspects burst into the home while the victims, a husband and wife, were seated at the table having dinner. The suspects each wore masks and gloves, and were armed with bricks and baseball bats. After being struck with a brick by one of the suspects, the male victim was able to wrestle the bat away from the other perpetrator and used the bat to defend himself and his wife. This suspect was subsequently airlifted to Erlanger Medical Center. The suspect that fled on foot but was caught by the armed citizens is in jail. No other suspects are being sought by deputies.
Sheriff Ralston said, “My detectives and crime scene investigators are still on the scene now (10:15pm) collecting physical evidence and questioning a number of witnesses. I will release further information about the case tomorrow as my detectives continue the investigation.
UPDATE: Thursday, May 18, 2017 10:30a.m.
As has been reported, two persons were apprehended in connection with the home invasion incident in the Pine Chapel community last night: Dustin Eugene Freeman, age 17, of 421 Beamer Circle, Calhoun, Georgia. He is confined in the county jail. The second defendant is identified as Alex Alcantar, age 17, of 200 Spring Valley Boulevard, Apartment 25, Calhoun, Georgia. Alcantar remains hospitalized under guard at this time. Both defendants will be charged by Sheriff’s detectives with: Home Invasion, Armed Robbery, Burglary, Aggravated Assault, and Cruelty to Animals.
Detectives have recovered masks, gloves, baseball bats, tape, as well as other items of physical evidence. detectives also determined that the defendants took measures to keep from leaving trace evidence at the scene.
The Cruelty to Animals charge stems from one of the defendants striking the victims’ dog with a baseball bat during the struggle as the animal attempted to protect it’s owners.