Officials: NC police chief pulls gun on thief who broke into his home

ERWIN, N.C. (WNCN) — A thief broke into the Erwin police chief’s home as he and his wife were sleeping early on St. Patrick’s Day, officials say.

The incident was reported around 3 a.m. Saturday at the home along Johnson’s Chapel Road near Raleigh Road.

Chief Johnathan Johnson said he and his wife were sleeping when she woke up and decided to go to the kitchen.

When she got there, she saw a man standing in the kitchen.

She then ran back to the bedroom and the suspect ran for the door, Johnson said.

Johnson ran outside and discovered the man in his wife’s car — trying to drive away.

Johnson pulled out a handgun and the suspect pulled out a pocketknife — that he had just stolen from the chief’s home, officials said.

During a brief struggle, the suspect was detained, according to authorities.

The suspect managed to take the chief’s badge, patrol car keys and some cash, Johnson said.

Xavier Howard Jones, 23, is charged with injury to personal property, misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon and breaking or entering a motor vehicle, according to the Johnston County Jail website.

He is being held under a $162,500 bond.