Suspected burglar dies after Alabama homeowner catches him breaking into his house, puts duct tape on his mouth and ties him to a tree
Washington County Sheriff Richard Stringer said 68-year-old Nathanial Johnson caught 31-year-old Cleveland Jones Gully breaking into the back door of his home, about 60 miles north of Mobile, on Friday just before midnight, AL.com reported.
Johnson, who told deputies his home had been robbed previously, had set up a trap that night in an effort to stop any more burglaries from taking place at his mobile home.
So he turned off the lights and parked his car at a neighbor's home to make it seem like no one was there and went back to his house where he waited inside by the back door, WALA reported.
He eventually heard someone knocking on the front door, Stringer said.
After he did not answer, the suspect then made his way to the back door where he broke the lock around 10pm, according to WALA.
Stringer said Johnson chased Gully, who reportedly has a reputation for breaking into homes, outside and Gully then either fell or jumped off the back steps.
Johnson tackled him to the ground, tied his hands behind his back, put duct tape on his mouth and tied him to a tree using insulated electrical tape and clothesline.
'He began to tie him to the tree still in the standing up position,' Stringer told WALA.
Johnson then left his home to go to a neighbor's house where he called 911.
However, when sheriff's deputies arrived about 10 minutes later, Gully was dead.
Stringer, who called the case 'very unusual' said Gully did not have any visible injuries apart from cuts on his body from the wire.
He said an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.
'I don't think he was intending to kill the intruder,' Stringer told WALA. 'I think he wanted to capture him and have him arrested.
Gully's uncle said he is still in shock following his nephew's death, telling the station that Gully 'wasn't a violent person that I know of.'
Meanwhile, Johnson's niece, Simone Johnson, described her uncle as a man who 'doesn't bother anybody.'
'He'll help you if you need helping, so the family just hates what happened,' she told WALA.
'I know the other guy. His family is hurting too, but we are also and we hate that, and I hope that we can just get this resolved soon.'
At this time, no charges have been filed against Johnson.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz4FzyS2XOU
- Deputies said Nathanial Johnson, 68, caught Cleveland Jones Gully, 31, breaking into back door of his Alabama home on Friday night
- He chased Gully out of the house and then the intruder either fell or jumped off the back steps, authorities said
- Johnson jumped on him, tied his hands behind his back, put duct tape on his mouth and tied him to a tree with masking tape and clothesline
- He then called 911 and when sheriff's deputies arrived about 10 minutes later, Gully was dead
- Autopsy will be performed and no charges have been filed yet against Johnson
Washington County Sheriff Richard Stringer said 68-year-old Nathanial Johnson caught 31-year-old Cleveland Jones Gully breaking into the back door of his home, about 60 miles north of Mobile, on Friday just before midnight, AL.com reported.
Johnson, who told deputies his home had been robbed previously, had set up a trap that night in an effort to stop any more burglaries from taking place at his mobile home.
So he turned off the lights and parked his car at a neighbor's home to make it seem like no one was there and went back to his house where he waited inside by the back door, WALA reported.
He eventually heard someone knocking on the front door, Stringer said.
After he did not answer, the suspect then made his way to the back door where he broke the lock around 10pm, according to WALA.
Stringer said Johnson chased Gully, who reportedly has a reputation for breaking into homes, outside and Gully then either fell or jumped off the back steps.
Johnson tackled him to the ground, tied his hands behind his back, put duct tape on his mouth and tied him to a tree using insulated electrical tape and clothesline.
'He began to tie him to the tree still in the standing up position,' Stringer told WALA.
Johnson then left his home to go to a neighbor's house where he called 911.
However, when sheriff's deputies arrived about 10 minutes later, Gully was dead.
Stringer, who called the case 'very unusual' said Gully did not have any visible injuries apart from cuts on his body from the wire.
He said an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.
'I don't think he was intending to kill the intruder,' Stringer told WALA. 'I think he wanted to capture him and have him arrested.
Gully's uncle said he is still in shock following his nephew's death, telling the station that Gully 'wasn't a violent person that I know of.'
Meanwhile, Johnson's niece, Simone Johnson, described her uncle as a man who 'doesn't bother anybody.'
'He'll help you if you need helping, so the family just hates what happened,' she told WALA.
'I know the other guy. His family is hurting too, but we are also and we hate that, and I hope that we can just get this resolved soon.'
At this time, no charges have been filed against Johnson.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz4FzyS2XOU
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