Two people are behind bars and another in the hospital after two robberies Tuesday that police believe are unrelated.
It started with a 911 call and alarm report around 12:30 p.m. in Crawford County. Deputies were called to a home north of Alma by the homeowner's wife, who said she and her husband had been attacked by two men and that her husband had been badly hurt.
"He had several lacerations to his face, a bruised eye that was swelling, he had been beaten pretty bad," said Aaron Breshears with the Crawford County Sheriff's Office.
The men reportedly took several items from the house, including a handgun. Police didn't want to comment on what was taken, but said they did get good descriptions of the suspects; two men, one younger and clean-shaven, one middle-aged, both wearing fleece zip-up hooded jackets.
Deputies used a reverse 911 alert system to call all residents in the vicinity and let them know about the crime, and say they got a response from one home in the area.
"Some residents that lived nearby said they seen a red pickup leaving the area at a high rate of speed shortly after the crime," said Breshears. "The homeowner also said a black car had pulled into their driveway earlier in the day and then left.
"We're not sure if those vehicles are related to the crime yet, so we're looking for both of them."
About an hour after the first robbery, another was reported in Van Buren. There, homeowner Debra Selph says a man knocked on her door and asked to see a family member. When she turned away, the man jumped inside, grabbed her purse, and took off down the block.
Police identified a suspect, 22-year-old Aaron Free, and the victim says he had been there the day before.
"It was very frightening, I'm just glad he didn't hurt me or my family, who were all there when it happened," said Selph. "I had to cancel all my credit cards and other stuff that was in my purse."
Just after 5NEWS aired a story about the crimes, police say they received a call from Free, who wanted to turn himself in. Officers found him at a house in Van Buren where he made the call from, and he surrendered to them without incident. Police also arrested Free's mother, 58-year-old Brenda Paulene Free, in suspicion of Hindering Apprehension. Investigators believe Ms. Free picked her son up after the burglary and drove him to a second location, and later lied to investigators.
"We're hoping to recover the items that were taken," said Lt. Brent Grill with the Van Buren Police Department. "Once we get a chance to talk with him, we should have a better idea of what he was after, why he'd just jump into that house with everyone there."
Anyone with information about either of these cases should contact the River Valley Crimestoppers line at 78-CRIME. You will remain anonymous, and could be eligible for a cash reward.
It started with a 911 call and alarm report around 12:30 p.m. in Crawford County. Deputies were called to a home north of Alma by the homeowner's wife, who said she and her husband had been attacked by two men and that her husband had been badly hurt.
"He had several lacerations to his face, a bruised eye that was swelling, he had been beaten pretty bad," said Aaron Breshears with the Crawford County Sheriff's Office.
The men reportedly took several items from the house, including a handgun. Police didn't want to comment on what was taken, but said they did get good descriptions of the suspects; two men, one younger and clean-shaven, one middle-aged, both wearing fleece zip-up hooded jackets.
Deputies used a reverse 911 alert system to call all residents in the vicinity and let them know about the crime, and say they got a response from one home in the area.
"Some residents that lived nearby said they seen a red pickup leaving the area at a high rate of speed shortly after the crime," said Breshears. "The homeowner also said a black car had pulled into their driveway earlier in the day and then left.
"We're not sure if those vehicles are related to the crime yet, so we're looking for both of them."
About an hour after the first robbery, another was reported in Van Buren. There, homeowner Debra Selph says a man knocked on her door and asked to see a family member. When she turned away, the man jumped inside, grabbed her purse, and took off down the block.
Police identified a suspect, 22-year-old Aaron Free, and the victim says he had been there the day before.
"It was very frightening, I'm just glad he didn't hurt me or my family, who were all there when it happened," said Selph. "I had to cancel all my credit cards and other stuff that was in my purse."
Just after 5NEWS aired a story about the crimes, police say they received a call from Free, who wanted to turn himself in. Officers found him at a house in Van Buren where he made the call from, and he surrendered to them without incident. Police also arrested Free's mother, 58-year-old Brenda Paulene Free, in suspicion of Hindering Apprehension. Investigators believe Ms. Free picked her son up after the burglary and drove him to a second location, and later lied to investigators.
"We're hoping to recover the items that were taken," said Lt. Brent Grill with the Van Buren Police Department. "Once we get a chance to talk with him, we should have a better idea of what he was after, why he'd just jump into that house with everyone there."
Anyone with information about either of these cases should contact the River Valley Crimestoppers line at 78-CRIME. You will remain anonymous, and could be eligible for a cash reward.
