SANDY TOWNSHIP – Three men have been charged with an early morning home invasion that took place Monday on Thunderbird Road in Sandy Township. The defendants have been identified as Eric Britton, 29, of Church Street, Falls Creek; Jeffrey Sprague, 28, of Coal Hollow Road, Verona and Austin Eheart, 20, of Palmyra, VA, according to Clearfield County District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr.
Yesterday Sergeant Rodney Fairman of the Sandy Township Police Department filed criminal complaints, charging the men with robbery; burglary; criminal trespass; criminal conspiracy; theft by unlawful taking; false imprisonment, two counts; and receiving stolen property.
According to the criminal complaints, at approximately 6:13 a.m. Monday, the Sandy Township police were dispatched to a home invasion on Thunderbird Road, where three men had broken into a residence, threatened the occupants and then fled on foot. Upon arrival police encountered the victims who were both 72 years of age; one of whom was confined to a wheelchair.
The female victim reported that she had been sleeping on the couch in her residence until startled by a loud noise. She observed three intruders who were wearing bandanas over their faces entering her locked front door. One of the intruders forced the victims into a bedroom and kept them from leaving while two other intruders began rummaging through the residence. After removing approximately $1,000 worth of U.S. currency, the intruders fled on foot.
Further investigation revealed the intruders had forced open the front door to the residence and had also shattered a side window. Based upon observations at the scene, they had entered or at least attempted to through a window in the residence. One intruder had sustained injuries while blood was found on the shattered glass pane of the window.
A broken section of a wooden step-ladder was also found underneath the window, and it did not belong to the victims. The Track and Trail Search and Rescue Team and Pennsylvania State Police responded to the scene to assist in locating the intruders and in processing the scene.
According to the criminal complaint, a passerby had reported observing a man walking out of the woods on South Main Street and Thunderbird Road. The man was wearing blue jeans and a white tank top with blood on it. He had blood all over is his face. Video surveillance was obtained from a Lincoln Drive residence that showed a man who matched the same description as previously reported. He was walking by at 6:50 a.m.
Yesterday Sandy Township and DuBois City police went to a residence located at 109 W. Washington Ave., DuBois, to serve a felony warrant on Sprague for a different robbery/burglary case in DuBois City, during which three men had worn blue bandanas.
Upon police entering the residence, Sprague attempted to flee out the rear, basement door; however, he was taken into custody. Sprague matched the physical description given by the victims of the intruder who had forced them to stay in their bedroom.
Inside the residence, police encountered Eheart, who matched the physical description of the man reported on South Main Street and in the surveillance footage from Lincoln Drive. Eheart appeared to have recent injuries that consisted of a laceration to his left hand. The laceration had been stitched. Eheart also had a laceration to his right arm and a contusion to his head.
Police found various clothing items that were covered in blood and mud, as well as a broken wooden step-ladder. The step-ladder appeared to be similar to that found at the scene.
Further investigation revealed that Britton, Sprague and Eheart were the three intruders who broke into the Thunderbird Road residence. They parked nearby and walked through a wooded area, carrying a wooden step-ladder with them. Upon arrival at the residence, Eheart smashed a window and Sprague kicked in the door to get inside. Once inside the residence, they removed the U.S. currency and fled on foot.
According to Shaw, Britton, Sprague and Eheart were apprehended and arraigned by Magisterial District Judge James Hawkins. During the arraignment, bail was set at $250,000 for each of the defendants. Preliminary hearings are to be scheduled at a later date.
Shaw explained this type of criminal activity will absolutely not be tolerated in Clearfield County. He said continued efforts will be directed toward identifying, investigating and prosecuting criminals responsible for this type of behavior.
Shaw commended Fairman and the Sandy Township police for their quick response in resolving this case and filing criminal charges. Shaw further thanked the DuBois City Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Track and Trail Search and Rescue Team for their “outstanding cooperation and efforts to assist with this investigation.”
Anyone with knowledge of a crime is asked to call Clearfield County Crime Stoppers at 800-376-4700. All calls to Crime Stoppers are confidential. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by visiting the Clearfield County District Attorney Web site at “www.ClearfieldDA.org” and selecting “Report A Crime.”