Galloway Home Invasion
Elderly Man Pistol Whipped

By VIRGINIA McCABE
Published June 3, 2009

A 78-year-old man was pistol whipped Wednesday when trying to protect his wife and fend off a home intruder.

The Galloway Police arrived at a home on Great Creek Road after a 9-1-1 call alerted them to a home invasion.

Police said an elderly couple were working in their yard. The wife, 78, entered her home and observed the intruder and called out to her husband. When her husband confronted the suspect, he brandished a .25 caliber, semi-automatic handgun. The husband became involved in a struggle with the suspect, according to police.

"The two became involved in a struggle during which the gun was fired several times into the floor, stated Sgt. Kevin Mott, spokesman for the Galloway Police. "The accused pistol whipped the victim causing bruises and lacerations to the face and head," he stated.

In a statement police said the accused fled the scene in a tan four-door Nissan and was stopped by Chief Patrick Moran on Pitney Road at Upland avenues.

The suspect was taken into custody without incident by Officers Justin Butler, Gary Brenner, Derek Tilton, Sgt. Frank Weir and Chief Patrick Moran, according to Mott.

Sgt. Dave Risley of Absecon City Police also assisted.

The handgun was recovered from the passenger compartment during a subsequent search of the vehicle. The accused was also in possession of a suspected controlled dangerous substance.

The victim of the home invasion was transported to Atlanticare Regional Medical Center for treatment of injuries.

The suspect was charged with two counts each of robbery, burglary, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

Mott stated that the suspect was being processed at the police station he became combative with officers and was also charged with an additional four counts of aggravated assault on a police officer.

Bail was set at $300,000 by Judge Brown.

Additional charges are pending further investigation by Officer Teresa Payne and Detectives Donna Higbee, Eric Hendrickson and Chris McGinty and the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Shooting Response team, according to Mott.

Anyone with information can contact the Galloway Detective Bureau at 652-3705.