Police said Evelyn Joyce Lovin, 76, was inside her house about 7 a.m. Saturday when she was attacked, suffering facial fractures and head injuries. She was taken to West Georgia Medical Center, then transferred to Atlanta Medical for specialized care.
Two other residences were burglarized prior to the attack. LaGrange police later arrested Jeffery Lee Martin, 42, whose last known address was Town and Country Motel on New Franklin Road, was charged with aggravated battery, two counts of burglary, one count of attempting to enter an auto and one count of criminal attempt to commit burglary.
Martin allegedly broke a window to enter a house in the 700 block of Camellia Drive about 6:45 a.m., but an audible alarm went off and the homeowner called 911.
About 15 to 20 minutes later, a police officer and canine tracked the burglar less than 1,000 yards through a lightly wooded pasture to the Lovin’s residence on Norwood Drive. He heard the woman screaming for help and entered through the front door as the intruder went out the back door and ran. Officers chased the man but lost him in the woods.
Officers continued searching the area with two canines and a helicopter from the Spalding County Sheriff’s Department. About 9:30 a.m., Martin was arrested while walking along railroad tracks on Miller Street. Police said physical evidence tied him to the crimes.
He allegedly took miscellaneous items from the home on Norwood, but nothing significant, said detective Capt. Dale Strickland.
Police said they also linked Martin to two other crimes late Friday night - a burglary in the 100 block of Ewing Street and an entering an auto in the 100 block of Wynnwood Drive. He also was wanted in Meriwether County for violating a probated sentence for entering an auto.
The front door to the Ewing Street residence was found kicked in, the house rummaged through and a $300 leather jacket found missing about midnight Saturday.
“This investigation is continuing and it is anticipated that Martin will be charged with other burglaries, entering autos, and property damage that occurred in that area within the past two days,” police said.
n Anyone with information was asked to call investigators at (706) 883-2633, 883-2621 or 883-2623 or Crime Stoppers at 812-1000.
Joel Martin can be reached at jmartin@lagrangenews.com or (706) 884-7311, Ext. 235.
Post a Comment
