“We’re very lucky no one was killed” – Armed man confronts Nederland police, chief says
Published 12:20 am Wednesday, July 15, 2020
- Zachary James Dean Rogers
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NEDERLAND — Nederland Police said they came face-to-face with an armed burglar, when he popped out of a closet while authorities were checking a home.
The homeowner had been away and when they returned at approximately 12:47 a.m. Saturday and noticed a window screen was off the house in the 2300 block of Montaigne Avenue.
The homeowner then called the police, Chief Gary Porter said.
Officers arrived and went inside to clear the home and found it to be in disarray. They were carefully checking the bedroom when a man jumped out in front of them and was pointing a handgun at them, Porter said.
Officers quickly backed out and started talking to the burglary suspect, then noted he escaped through a bedroom window.
Officers chased the man and ended up apprehending a suspect on the south side of FM 365 at Avery Trace Apartments in Port Arthur.
The initial crime occurred in the 2300 block of Montaigne Avenue in Nederland and police said the suspect was located at Avery Trace Apartments. (Google Images)
Police arrested Zachary James Dean Rogers, 24, of LaPorte on charges of burglary of a habitation, evading arrest and aggravated assault on a peace officer.
Rogers remains in the Jefferson County Correctional Facility on bonds totaling $55,000.
“When he was caught he was in possession of another handgun that he pointed at the pursuing officers several times,” Porter said.
As the investigation progressed that’s when police noted the suspect had dropped the first firearm, which was the homeowner’s. The second weapon is possibly to tied to a string of vehicle burglaries that happened in that neighborhood, Porter said.
Earlier this month a Ruger handgun, Beretta 40-caliber Smith & Wesson Carbine and an AK47 were stolen from a vehicle whose locking mechanism was broken at Chateau Nederland Apartments.
Several other firearms were stolen from other unlocked vehicles in the city.
Porter is once again urging people to secure their firearms because if stolen it could be used on the gun owner or a police officer.
As for the homeowner who opted to call police and not enter the home, Porter said he did the right thing.
“We’re very lucky no one was killed in that incident,” he said.
