Suspected Ephrata burglar, family brawl with victim

Suspect receives broken hand, burn

EPHRATA — A brawl among neighbors early Wednesday morning ended their dispute, which apparently started when a homeowner discovered an uninvited neighbor prowling through his home.

The Ephrata Police Department responded to a burglary in progress around 1:30 a.m. on Second Avenue SE. They were unable to find the suspect. He was able to flee through the home's back door while the victim called police.

As the suspect scrambled to escape, he left items believed to be stolen from a garage and vehicle on G Street SE, including two harmonicas, a bicycle, cell phone, heater, car stereo and compound bow. Police Chief Joe Varick said it was unclear why the burglar brought the stolen property into the home.

About an hour later, officers converged on a different home about a block away, believed to be the suspect's residence. It was there police found five people brawling in the middle of G Street SE, including the victim of the earlier burglary, according to police.

The burglary suspect, the suspect's mother, the suspect's stepfather and a witness to the earlier burglary were piled on top of the victim when police arrived, said Varick.

"We're not dealing with Boy Scouts here," he said.

Police were able to break up the fight without further incident.

They arrested Terry C. Osborne, 19, of Ephrata, on anticipated charges of first-degree burglary, second-degree vehicle prowl, second-degree theft, possession of stolen property and disorderly conduct. He was then booked into Grant County Jail.

By the time police took Osborne into custody, his right hand was broken and he claimed he was punched in the face and hit with a burning cigarette during the brawl. Varick said investigators were not aware of any burn injuries.

Osborne told authorities the burglary victim threatened to kill him before coming to the home and fighting.

Police will continue to investigate the incident.