Homeowner Defends Family, Intruder Arrested After Stealing Neighbors Car and Police Pursuit

SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA — A tense home invasion escalated into a vehicle pursuit before ending in the arrest of a suspect who sustained a gunshot wound. The incident occurred on Friday, November 29, at approximately 3:00 PM on the 7200 block of Chandler Drive.

According to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, 40-year-old Emelio Correa attempted to break into a home while the homeowner and his family were inside. Correa shattered windows and ignored multiple warnings to stop. Fearing for his family’s safety, the homeowner fired at Correa from inside the house, striking him in the hand.

Correa fled the scene on foot and broke into a nearby unoccupied home. Once inside, he located car keys, stole the vehicle from the garage, and crashed through the garage door to escape. Deputies from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Central Patrol Division responded promptly and pursued Correa, who led them on a high-speed chase lasting nearly an hour.

The pursuit ended near Highway 99 and Arno Road after deputies deployed spike strips and executed the Pursuit Immobilization Technique (PIT). Correa was arrested without further incident and taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries, including the gunshot wound. After being medically cleared, he was booked into jail on multiple felony charges, including burglary, vehicle theft, and evading law enforcement. He is being held on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court on December 3.

This incident underscores the importance of maintaining a secure home and having a home defense plan in place. In life-threatening situations, homeowners must be prepared to protect themselves and their loved ones. Always know your state’s laws regarding the use of force in self-defense to ensure your actions are legally justified.