Guitar Teacher Fends Off Burglar In Violent Brawl

VACAVILLE, Calif. (CBS13) – A guitar instructor at a musical instrument store took on a masked burglar in a bloody brawl and delayed the suspect long enough for police to catch up with him.

Tweed Hut Music Store instructor Josh Wise said he was approaching the rear entrance of the store Sunday night when he noticed that the alarm had been triggered, and moments later, he was face to face with the burglar.

"The door flew open and there was a guy in the doorway with a ski mask," Wise said. "So after just a split second of surprise for both of us, he lunged at me and I lunged at him."

Wise, a black belt martial artist, ignored the suspect when he claimed he had a gun and wrapped the suspect with his legs, controlling his limbs. The suspect, identified as 39-year-old Joseph Ofman of Concord, allegedly tried to stab Wise with a long screwdriver, but the guitar teacher disarmed him.

"I told him, 'You've got two choices: You can either go to jail tonight or go to the hospital,'" Wise said.

Ofman allegedly tried to choke Wise, who said he stabbed him with the screwdriver in the forearm.

"That pretty much took the fight out of him," Wise said.

The suspect tried to run for the freeway but was apprehended by Vacaville police officers.

Ofman was treated at the hospital for his wounds and then arrested on charges of burglary and assault with a deadly weapon.