Rifle-toting intruder forces his way into home in middle of night. Homeowner puts him in chokehold; cops find intruder dead.

A rifle-toting intruder forced his way into home in Midland, Texas, early Saturday morning — but the homeowner put the intruder in chokehold, and police said they found the intruder dead.

What are the details?

Midland police said George Samuel Butler, 37, entered a home in the 1400 block of Daventry Place “by force with a rifle," MRT.com reported, after which the homeowner placed the suspect in a chokehold "in an apparent case of self-defense."

Police said they responded to the scene just after 4 a.m. after a report of a disturbance with weapons and found Butler dead, the outlet added.

MRT.com noted that the police department's Crimes Against Persons Unit and Crime Scene Unit also responded to the scene, next of kin were notified, and the investigation into the fatality continued.

Not the first instance

MRT.com added that Butler was previously arrested for burglarizing a home in Midland.

The outlet, citing police, said a woman stated in July 2022 that "Butler had kicked in her front door."

Arriving police said officers saw Butler through windows of a residence searching a room and looking under beds — and cops also saw pieces of the front door frame hanging, MRT.com reported.

More from the outlet:

Officers made several announcements for Butler to exit the residence, but he refused and shut the door, preventing officers from conducting their duties. When officers entered the residence and attempted to place him in handcuffs, Butler started fighting an officer and placed him in a headlock. The officer was able to take Butler to the ground before placing him, with the help of other officers, in handcuffs. The officer also sustained a bloody nose.

MRT.com said Butler was arrested for assault on a peace officer/judge, a second-degree felony; burglary of habitations, a second-degree felony; and two misdemeanor charges. The outlet reported that he was held on a $57,000 bond.

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