FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A Fort Lauderdale man was arrested last week after he attacked a homeowner during a burglary, authorities said.
The incident was reported shortly before 9:30 a.m. May 17 at a home in the 1100 block of Southwest 19th Avenue.
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Fort Lauderdale police said the homeowner arrived home to find that his house had been broken into.
He armed himself for protection and found the burglar in his home while he was walking through it, detectives said.
Police said the burglar, Darrell Rice, 33, attacked the homeowner and snatched his cellphone away so the victim couldn't call 911.
Police said Rice tried to disarm the victim and put him in a chokehold.
The victim stabbed Rice in the leg and Rice armed himself with a broomstick, striking the homeowner with it before running out of the house, police said.
The victim suffered a cut on his hand during the struggle.
Officers recovered fingerprints from the broomstick and identified Rice as the suspect.
Rice was arrested the next day on charges of burglary involving a battery, aggravated battery on a person 65 or older and hindering communication with law enforcement.