(AK) Mobile home intruder met by gunfire
Date: Jul 24, 2005 8:04 AM
http://www.adn.com/front/story/6730172p-6617745c.html

Mobile home intruder met by gunfire
SHOT TWICE: Neighbor saw burglar break, enter window.

By MEGAN HOLLAND
Anchorage Daily News

Published: July 21st, 2005
Last Modified: July 21st, 2005 at 04:52 AM

An intruder was shot twice after he climbed through a window in a mobile home and was met by an angry resident early Wednesday morning, Anchorage police said.

Shane Crousser, 20, whom police have charged with first-degree burglary and third-degree assault, was recovering from his bullet wounds at the Anchorage jail on Wednesday evening.

Shortly after 1 a.m. Wednesday, police said, an intruder entered a window of a trailer home at the Manoog’s Isle Mobile Home Park on Lake Otis Parkway north of East Dowling Road. A neighbor heard glass shattering and saw the break-in occurring, police spokesman Ron McGee said. The neighbor called 911.

While on the phone with the police, the neighbor saw the resident get into a fight with the burglar. Then he heard shots, McGee said.

The burglar got into a dark-colored Ford Explorer and drove away.

A short time later, police say, Crousser showed up at an emergency room with gunshot wounds to his upper left thigh and lower right calf. They said they don’t know what was behind the break-in and fight.

During a search of the trailer home, police discovered numerous marijuana plants, McGee said. Wednesday evening, McGee said the resident of the trailer had not been charged with anything.

“There is a strong possibility this was about the marijuana plants,” McGee said.

Asked about the home occupant shooting the intruder, McGee said the law says a person can “use deadly force” if they are in fear of their life or a loved one’s life. But a person cannot use deadly force to protect property.

Wednesday evening, Crousser was at the Anchorage jail with his bail is set at $15,000, according to jail authorities.