Gordon County Homeowner Fights off Home Invaders

Police arrested a couple of Gordon County teenagers for a home invasion last night.

The Sheriff tells us the homeowner was able to fight them off using the intruder’s own weapon.

Gordon County Sheriff Mitch Ralston says two 17-year-old boys staked out a couple from the homeowner’s own backyard, a home in the Pine Chapel community; a small, quiet, unincorporated part of Gordon County.

Then, around 8:30 Wednesday evening, they entered through an unlocked door.

“Both Dustin Freeman and Alex Alcantar, both of the suspects burst through the door as the husband and wife were eating dinner. Both suspects wore masks, gloves and they were armed with baseball bats and bricks,” said Sheriff Ralston.

But when deputies arrived, one of the suspects was found unconscious.

“After bring assaulted, the husband managed to get the bat from one of the suspects and used it to defend himself and his wife. The other suspect, Dustin Freeman ran from the house into a wooded area but was caught a short distance later by neighbors and deputy sheriff’s,” said Sheriff Ralston.

The injured teen was airlifted to Erlanger hospital in Chattanooga where he is still receiving treatment.

“Both are being charged with home invasion, armed robbery, aggravated assault, burglary. Alex Alcantar will be also charged with cruelty to animals which he did hit the homeowners dogs with a baseball bat,” said Sheriff Ralston.

The dog is reportedly doing well, but the homeowners were visibly shaken.