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That's No Gnome: Residents Subdue Garden Intruder

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 13, 2008

TAMPA - Two residents stymied a would-be burglar, holding him at bay with garden tools, police said, until they could make an arrest.

Tampa Police officers arrested Justin P. Frazier, 33, 203 Frances Ave. W. No. 5, Saturday at 1:58 p.m. at 4219 E. Henry Avenue. He is being held in the Hillsborough County Jail. His bail has been set at $3,500.

Authorities said Antonio DeArmas, 54, and Jose Francisco, 22, responded to a home alarm and confronted Frazier walking through their back yard and attempted to detain him. They told police Frazier punched them, and they retaliated by hitting Frazier with a garden spade and a pipe.

Police, responding to the alarm, arrested Frazier after a brief scuffle.

The residents received minor injuries, police said. Frazier was treated for a cut on the back of his head.

DeArmas and Francisco told police Fraizer had broken into their garden shed before and that he had entered the yard through an unlocked door.

Frazier faces a charge of felony burglary of an unoccupied structure, two counts of misdemeanor assault on DeArmas and Francisco and misdemeanor resisting an officer without violence. He is being held in Orient Road Jail on $3,500 bail.

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