Indiana homeowner holds burglary suspect at bay until police arrive

HUDSON LAKE, Ind. (WLS) -- An Indiana man found an alleged burglar in his house overnight. The homeowner called police and held the suspect at gunpoint until officers arrived.

The homeowner, who lives in the 8400-block of East County Road North in Hudson Lake, told police that when he got home just after midnight, he realized someone had broken in and was still inside his house.

Police said the homeowner had a handgun on him. He used it to keep the suspect inside until La Porte County sheriff's deputies got there. The man, who told police he was homeless, was taken into custody.

The La Porte County Sheriff's Office identified the suspect as William Boone, 26. He was charged with residential burglary, a felony. He is being held at La Porte County jail. He is due back in court on Feb. 4.

The sheriff's office said this is second time in the last month a La Porte County homeowner held a suspect until deputies arrived. On Jan. 6, a 54-year-old man forced his way into an 81-year-old man's home. The older man "physically restrained" the suspect until police got there.

"While it is certainly risky when you encounter a burglar, it is well within a homeowner's rights to do so. Most importantly, no one was injured and we commend the homeowner in this case for his quick thinking and bravery," La Porte County Sheriff John Boyd said in a statement released Friday.