Kosciusko County Officers apprehended a burglary suspect Wednesday morning, just north of Leesburg, within 12 minutes of the crime.Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department Deputies were advised of a burglary in progress Wednesday morning at approximately 10:18 a.m., along with a suspect that was fleeing the residence of 6008 North, Old State Road 15 in Leesburg. As officers from several area departments began to converge onto the area, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Deputy Jim Smith located a vehicle matching the 9-1-1 description, traveling northbound from Leesburg on Old State Road 15. Deputy Smith initiated a traffic stop with the green colored Mercury Sable and took the suspect, 43 year old Mack Samuel Stokes of Warsaw into custody without incident.
K.C.S.D. deputies and detectives determined during the initial investigation that the owner of the residence had originally been startled by a sound located in the rear of her house. The female homeowner confronted Stokes inside the residence and discovered he had broken out a window to gain entry. She immediately retrieved her son, who also subsequently confronted Stokes as he was walking back to the house from his vehicle, wielding a claw hammer. The victim’s son had obtained his personal .45 caliber handgun at which point Stokes returned to his vehicle and began to flee the property. Stokes purportedly attempted to run-over the male victim in the driveway, at which point he then discharged his firearm into the Mercury Sable.
Stokes was arrested and preliminarily charged with felony burglary of a dwelling. It was later determined that Stokes did not have permission from the actual owner to be in possession the vehicle used in the commission of the burglary. He is currently being held on a $6,000 bond and may face additional charges according to the Kosciusko County Prosecutor's Office. The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department was assisted in the investigation by the Milford Police Department and the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office.
The Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office advises that the defendant’s charge is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
