A Beckridge man is being deemed a hero after he foiled the burglary of his neighbor’s house, holding one of the burglars at gunpoint until deputies arrived.
“He’s a hero to me,” said Sheriff Jackie Matheny of the man who he preferred not to identify.
According to the sheriff, the man received a call during around 3:30 a.m. from his neighbor telling him someone was trying to break into her house.
“She said she heard something moving around on her porch,” Matheny said. “When he came outside to investigate he saw someone trying to get into her house.”
The neighbor, who was toting a shotgun when he ventured out into the darkness, ordered the suspect to the ground. The suspect complied while his wheelman sped off.
“He held the one suspect until our officers arrived,” Matheny said.
The man who he held at bay has been identified as Eric Michael Ridge, 38. He is charged with aggravated burglary as well as possession of a weapon seeing a pair of brass knuckles were found in his pocket.
The wheelman, Jonathan Eugene Franzen, 31, was caught later and charged with aggravated burglary and possession of drugs.
In light of the incident, the sheriff said the man did a good deed and may have prevented a tragedy.
“What he did was heroic,” Matheny said.