AKRON, Ohio — An off-duty Akron police officer apprehended a burglar who broke into a West Akron home on Tuesday, according to the Akron Police Department.
Leo Walter, who lives in the 700 block of Ecton Road, called police around 3:30 a.m. to report the frightening crime.
Walter has a Ring doorbell camera and received an alert on his phone that someone was on his enclosed porch.
"When the the Ring went off at 3:30 on our phones, I immediately ran downstairs," Walter told News 5. "As I turned on on the porch light, I could see him leave and so I called 911."
Officer William Culver was not working, but he lives in the area. His wife spotted the suspect roaming through yards and woke up Culver.
Culver, a seven-year veteran of the force, rushed outside and also heard the sound of a Ring doorbell alarm.
"I got up to see what's going on, who it was," Culver said.
As patrol officers were on their way, Culver saw someone, later identified as 56-year-Richard Curley, running in the neighborhood, so he chased him on foot for a short distance and tackled him in a backyard across the street.
"In this field— this line of work— if you are a person that likes to help and protect, you turn into that dog— that dog and cat chase right there. You just have to catch whoever you're running after," Culver said.
On-duty officers arrived and arrested Curley. He was charged with burglary.
Curley was accused of entering the resident’s enclosed porch and attempted to get inside the house.
The alleged burglar’s vehicle was located in the 700 block of Palisades Drive. It was impounded and held for processing.
Akron police said Curley is a person of interest in a string of burglaries and similar crimes in the area that are under investigation.
"I'm kind of happy he's off the streets now and hopefully that will be the end of that in this area," Culver said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Akron Police Department Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490.
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