Grandparents fight back against intruders

5th suspect nabbed Wednesday morning

OAK HILL, Fla. – The last of five suspected thieves was arrested Wednesday morning after the group allegedly tried to break into an Oak Hill home but were confronted and scared off by residents,

The Volusia County Sheriff's Office said Joseph Jones, 18, was arrested a day after trying to break into the home on Gary Avenue around 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Peggy and Ira Roberts said they were home when the group of suspects tried to break into the cottage that their grandson lives in behind their home. Peggy said she went outside and confronted the suspects.

"I said, 'Who are you and what are you doing out here and what do you want?'" Peggy Roberts told Local 6.

Ira Roberts said he then grabbed a gun and fired a warning shot into the ground.

"Legally, you can't shoot them when they're running away, so I pumped one into the ground, which was a good thing (because) it alerted all my neighbors," he said.

One of the neighbors who heard the shot was Beverly Rose. At the time, she didn't know who was armed, but said it didn't stop her from chasing after and tackling one of the suspects.

"When I got him and I tackled him, I put him in like a full nelson so he couldn't reach (for a possible gun)," said Rose.

Rose, a former professional boxer and football coach, held Justin Goodrich, 23, of Edgewater, until deputies arrived. She even had time to snap pictures as Goodrich was taken away in an ambulance.

"I mean, I could have tackled him on the grass to be honest with you, but I wanted him on the asphalt," laughed Rose.

The group of thieves tried to steal a safe, but left it in the road. Sky 6 was over the scene when a K-9 found James Watson, 26, of New Smyrna Beach, hiding in some nearby woods.

Deputies said two other suspects, Kayla Selph, 23, of New Smyrna Beach, and Alex Safford, 18, of Oak Hill, fled in a vehicle, but were arrested about 4 miles north of the scene.

No one was injured by the gunshot but two defendants were transported to Bert Fish Medical Center in New Smyrna Beach for treatment.

Watson was treated for dog bite injuries while Goodrich was evaluated after he began suffering seizures at the crime scene. The Sheriff's Office said both men were later released from the hospital.

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About the Author:

Lisa Bell has been in Central Florida since 2007, covering the big stories that impact our community. Lisa was promoted to News 6 evening news co-anchor in May 2014.

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