Burglar caught in the act sentenced to five years …

It doesn’t often happen, but last night a burglar was caught red-handed. Around eight-thirty on Monday night police received information that an alarm was blaring in the Ridge Lagoon subdivision off the Burrell Boom Road. In responding to the scene, P.C. Akbar Swazo met homeowner Kendis Ferguson and his wife in the yard, who pointed out a broken glass window. When P.C. Swazo conducted a search of the premises, he found twenty year old John Alexander Roches hiding under a bed. Swazo reports that in trying to detain Roches, the suspect fired a kick at him, but missed. He said Roches then tried to attack him with a screwdriver, prompting him to draw his service revolver and fire a shot. The bullet struck the burglar in his foot and subdued him. A further search of Roches revealed jewellery and a cell phone belonging to the homeowners. This morning he appeared in front of Magistrate Dorothy Flowers and pled guilty to Burglary for which he was sentenced to five years in prison. Roches however, pleaded not guilty to the charge of Aggravated Assault and that case was adjourned to June fourth.