Southfield

Sisters fend off intruder

By Jessica Strachan
C & G Staff Writer

A Southfield resident in the 28000 block of Sutherland Street was startled to find an intruder in her home in the early morning hours of Jan. 28. The man attacked her and then fled, but thanks to a fresh coat of snow covering the ground, he didn’t stay wanted for long, police said.

According to Lt. Nick Loussia of the Southfield Police Department, the 18-year-old victim walked into her living room just after 1:30 a.m. to find a man crouching down behind her furniture. The intruder immediately stood up and went after the woman.

“He grabbed her by the arm and tried to drag her toward the front door of the house,” Loussia explained. “She bit him in the hand and screamed, pushing him away.” The woman was able to escape the man’s grasp, thanks in part to her 20-year-old sister rushing from her bedroom to aid in the struggle. Once the sisters fought off the intruder, he fled the home in an unknown direction.

Officers located fresh boot tracks in the snow right outside the victim’s home. Following the tracks just a couple of blocks, Loussia said, officers found that the footprints led right to a side door of a nearby house. Officers set up surveillance of the home and shortly after were able to make contact with the homeowner, who said that her 35-year-old son lives with her.

She gave officers permission to enter her home, and after interviewing the man, who matched the victim’s description, officers determined that he was the suspect they were looking for.

The man was arrested and charged with home invasion, and assault and battery. Loussia said the report did not note how the suspect was able to enter the home, though officers reported that the sisters were not injured in the incident.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Jessica Strachan at jstrachan@candgnews.com or at (586)279-1108.