Shattering glass from an apparent burglar awoke an 88-year-old woman who slipped outside to call 911 Tuesday, October 11th, outside her Burnt Knob Road home, a sheriff’s deputy reported. The suspect was nabbed about three minutes later by Cpl. David Foote who saw the burglary suspect allegedly loading the woman’s property into his vehicle. Foote charged suspect Miguel Angle Garcia-Gomez, 40, with aggravated burglary, theft and possession of burglary tools. Garcia-Gomez is a homeless illegal immigrant. When Foote arrived about 7 a.m., he heard loud crashing and banging sounds coming from inside the home and saw a ladder propped against a window. Then, he saw the man loading items inside his vehicle. Foote asked the man what he was doing. “The subject was extremely nervous and replied, ‘I don’t know,’” Foote reported. Deputies Teresa Reed and James Davis joined Foote in checking the home for additional suspects. They noticed the rooms were rummaged and property scattered around. A television was placed near the back door. Property belonging to the victim was found inside the suspect’s vehicle and returned to her. Deputies also found a pry bar and a black mask. Sgt. Mike George said Foote “did a fantastic job. He caught the suspect coming out the back door with all the property.” Foote arrested the man identified as Garcia-Gomez and took him to the Rutherford County Sheriff’s office where the corporal and Detective Steve Brown interviewed him. “Mr. Gomez stated that he had resorted to burglary because of a back injury which prevented him from working,” Foote reported. He was booked into Rutherford County Adult Detention Center where he was identified as an illegal immigrant. He is being held, with a hearing set Nov. 17 in General Sessions Court.
