Burglary suspect fires shot at homeowners while fleeing scene

NORTH WEBSTER, Ind. (WANE) - A husband and wife speak days after being shot at by a burglar they caught inside their home.

According to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department,  the homeowners called 911 after they arrived at their residence located in the area of 8947 East, County Road 500 North just after 9:30 pm where they found an unidentified vehicle in the driveway.  Shortly after arriving a man came out of the home, pointed a shotgun in their direction and told them to leave.

"He hollered at us, 'back out,' just a couple of times with some force to it," said Kathryn Streby. "I continue to back and I started pulling away and that's when we heard the gunshot."

The burglar then left the scene.

The son of the homeowners arrived as the suspect was leaving and he followed in his own vehicle east on County Road 500 North while providing police dispatch with the vehicle information and direction of travel.

Officers used a "Stop Stick" near County Road 150 North and the suspect's vehicle finally came to a stop a short time later.  The suspect fled into some woods and a Winona Lake officer and his canine were able to catch him after a short chase.

Aubert Clevenger, 30, of Pierceton was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital for treatment of  dog bites he received during the apprehension.  

"Tuesday morning when we eventually got to go to bed, didn't sleep good, only a couple hours," she said. "But last night (Tuesday), I slept very good."

Kathryn said she and her husband are glad they were not home at the time Clevenger broken in.

"I think if we've came home at the wrong time, that we might have got shot since he shot at the car," she said.

Police are investigating whether Clevenger may have been involved in an earlier home burglary.  

The homeowners were not injured in the incident.