Homeowner finds burglar in his kitchen, tells cops suspect 'came at me,' fight breaks out — and suspect ends up in hospital

An Alabama homeowner last week told police he found a burglar in his kitchen who then "came at me" — and soon a fight broke out, and the suspect ended up in the hospital.

What are the details?

Marshall County Sheriff Phil Sims said deputies responded March 26 to a possible burglary in progress on Horton Nixon Chapel Road, the Sand Mountain Reporter said.

A deputy arrived to find the homeowner attempting to detain a suspect in the carport, the paper said, adding that the deputy detained 43-year-old Jimmy Hogeland of Blountsville.

The homeowner, according to Sims, told the deputy he returned from visiting a next-door neighbor to find Hogeland in his kitchen, the paper said.

The homeowner said Hogeland “came at me,” after which the pair began to fight, the paper reported, adding that the homeowner was still trying to restrain Hogeland when law enforcement arrived on the scene.

"As his right, I commend the homeowner for protecting himself and his property when he found the offender in his residence,” Sims said, according to the sheriff's office Facebook page. “If someone is caught breaking into a home, they need to realize the owner has a right to protect themselves and their property, and they will do so."

Deputies also found Hogeland’s vehicle backed up to the home and loaded with property belonging to the victim, the paper said, citing Sims.

In addition, methamphetamines and marijuana were recovered from the vehicle, the paper said.

Hogeland was checked for injuries and was taken by ambulance to Marshall Medical Center South and later University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital for treatment, the paper said.

Due to his hospitalization, Hogeland was not arrested at the time, Sims told the paper, adding that his vehicle was impounded and arrest warrants were obtained.

Oops!

Last Thursday, deputies discovered Hogeland was no longer in the hospital — but they soon tracked him down to a family member’s home, where he was found hiding in a back room, the paper reported.

Hogeland was arrested and charged with third-degree burglary and second-degree theft of property, the paper said, adding that he was taken to the Marshall County Jail on a $25,000 bond.

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