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1993-04-17
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04/07/1993
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (UPI) -- Two would-be burglars dropped to their
knees and offered to pray for forgiveness but a gun-toting church
janitor had earthly punishment in mind.
The teens were charged Wednesday with burglary while police in
the central Illinois community of Bloomington advised against
residents trying similar heroics.
Police say the teens were trying to steal sound equipment, a
television and a telephone answering machine from the Christian Life
Center Tuesday when Jerry Price, a maintenance man who moved into a
basement apartment at the church four days earlier, caught them.
Price said he heard noises, prompting him to grab his .38 caliber
handgun before going to investigate.
Price said he encountered the teens in the basement, carrying
knives that had been stolen from his apartment the day before.
"I told them I would shoot them if they didn't drop the knives
and get to the floor, and that's exactly what they did," Price said.
Price said he talked to the teens for about 15 minutes before
reporting the burglary.
"They begged me to let them go," Price said. "They said they were
sorry. They offered to go upstairs and pray."
Police charged Jason Gaddy, 17, and a 15-year-old male juvenile
with burglary.
Assistant Police Chief Richard Ryan said he appreciated Price's
help, but said citizens should not rush to make similar arrests.
"It's a very dangerous situation in this day and age," Ryan said.
"We appreciate any help. However, we do not expect citizens to make
arrests."