FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) – Police responding to a 9-1-1 call for a burglar with a bat, ended up watching a citizen observer and a resident chase down and shoot both suspects.
Police received a 911 call of a burglary in progress at about 2:30 p.m. for a home in the 10000 blk. of Tulare Lane, in a neighborhood just west of the Alliance Town Center. The woman who made the call told CBS11 she heard several booms coming from behind her house.
“Climbed on a chair and looked over my fence and saw a guy with a bat at the back of the house,” she said, asking not to be identified. “I was not sure what exactly what was going on. I was thinking he doesn’t look like he fits back there with a bat so that’s when I called 911.”
Police said the home the man was breaking into was actually occupied. The resident ran out, and eventually so did the burglar.
When officers responded to the call, they spotted the burglar running through the neighborhood and a small grey sedan that was backing up to pick him up. A citizen passenger riding in the police patrol car then jumped out and attempted to chase down the burglary suspect.
A second citizen, who police said had been notified of what was happening by the original burglary victim, then ran toward the scene with a handgun. He fired as many as nine shots at the burglary suspects, hitting them both.
Police said the resident with the gun believed that the citizen observer was an undercover officer in plain clothes, and that the burglars were attempting to run him over with their car. Major Paul Henderson said the man fired believing officers were in danger.
Citizens who ride along with police are typically required to sign a waiver Henderson said, and are instructed not to leave the vehicle or become involved in any situation. He said a review of the program would now be necessary.
Police continue their investigation to determine if either of the citizens involved should face any charges.
The two suspects were transported to JPS Hospital. Their conditions are unknown.
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