A quiet night turned violent when a resident woke to unexpected movement outside her home and decided to confront it herself. The encounter ended with injuries — and a suspect disappearing into the dark.
According to a report from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to a residence after receiving a call about an assault involving a possible intruder.
When deputies arrived, they found a woman with a bloody nose who reported she had been asleep when she heard noises coming from her back porch. She told deputies she looked outside and saw an unknown man going through items on the porch. When she yelled at him, the man attempted to flee.
The woman reported grabbing onto the man’s clothing in an effort to stop him. At that point, she said the man turned and punched her in the face to break free. She attempted to chase him but tripped over a garbage can in the backyard and fell. The suspect then ran off on foot, and she was unable to see which direction he went.
Lawrence County EMS was requested to assess her injuries at the scene. Deputies photographed her injuries and the surrounding area and collected a written statement documenting what happened.
Afterward, deputies patrolled the surrounding area but were unable to locate anyone matching the suspect’s description.
The incident remains under investigation. Deputies note that residents who encounter suspicious activity are encouraged to contact law enforcement immediately rather than attempting to intervene themselves — especially when confronting someone who may become violent.
