With the help of a few neighbors — and a big stick — an East Brewton man  detained a burglary suspect until police arrived Friday morning.
Suspect Dustin Raymond McCurdy, 19, was charged with third-degree burglary and third-degree criminal mischief.
East Brewton Police Chief Kenny Brazile said officers were summoned to a U.S. 29 address in response to a burglary call. “When we got to the scene, we found that the owner of the property involved in the suspected burglary had caught and detained the suspect along with the help of some of his neighbors,” Brazile said.
Brazile said the property owner had been using the unoccupied residence for storage.
“He was living in a home near the building and heard some noise at the old house,” Brazile said. “When he heard a window break, he went to investigate. He told us that as he went into the building he startled McCurdy and began chasing him with a stick. I think he may have hit him with the stick a couple of times. Some of the neighbors saw and heard what was going on and came to help him. They helped chase him down and detain him until we could arrive on the scene.”
Brazile said the property had been the target of break-ins and vandalism in recent months.
“He’s had issues there before with people breaking in, vandalizing, that sort of thing,” Brazil said. “He just happened to be in a position to be aware of the situation there this time.”