Neighbors tackle burglary suspect

HUNTINGTON, Ind. (WANE) - Huntington Police credit the quick action of several neighbors with the apprehension and arrest of a burglary suspect.

Officers were called to the 500 block of Sherman Street around 10:00 p.m. Tuesday. Someone had tackled a person believed to have been seen breaking into a home.

When police got there, they found neighbors had grabbed Josh Howell, 37, about a block from the scene of the alleged break-in.

Officers had been to the same Sherman Street address about five hours earlier to investigate the death of an elderly female who lived there. Police believe that once the family and police left, Howell went inside to steal things.

"I was in the window and he just came walking out right down that ramp, right out the back door. Then he went that way towards the park," said neighbor Justin Harris. "I just can't believe anyone would do that. Rob from someone who just died. It's not right."

Harris heard someone yell to call police, so he did that and then ran outside.

"Last I knew he was out front and then I hear voices out back. I just ran this way and jumped over the fence," Harris explained. "It was dark so I didn't even know who was who. But I used my phone light to see the face of Rich (a neighbor) and he was the one on top holding down the suspect."

Harris jumped right in and helped hold Howell down until police arrived. When officers got there, it took them a minute to determine what was happening.

"When we arrive, we don't know, so there's a good chance that everybody's going to go into custody until we can figure out what's going on," said Officer Alan Foster.

And while this situation turned out okay, police don't recommend taking the law into your own hands. "We don't want to tell the community to go out and grab ahold of bad guys because that's our job. I don't want to see you get hurt," Foster said.

Howell was taken to the Huntington County Jail where bond was set at $9,000. He faces a Class B Felony Burglary charge and a Class A Misdemeanor charge of Battery.