Woodland Homeowner Confronts Burglars; 4 Suspects Arrested
WOODLAND — A Woodland homeowner heard a crooks breaking into his home and called 911, unsure if he should shoot or hide.
The incident happened in the 1600 block of Truckee Way at about 2:30 p.m. on Monday.
"I called 911 and got the dispatcher on and told her that somebody was trying to break into my house," the homeowner who didn't want to be identified, told CBS13 on Tuesday. "I was terrified. I told the 911 dispatcher that I'm afraid for my life."
The homeowner says he was forced to defend himself and his home from four burglars.
Just days before he got information that several people had been casing his home. One of those suspects is a former roommate.
Monday night he heard a "really hard" knock at the door.
He didn't answer but he got his gun. Two burglars broke in through a garage door, not knowing he was in the house.
"I told the 911 dispatcher 'What do I do when they come into my house? Am I allowed to shoot them?' They said, 'No, you're allowed to protect yourself.'"
Within seconds he was face to face with a man and woman.
"I told them to stop, to freeze."
The man ran for it.
"The guy moved really fast."
The woman didn't quite make it out.
"Instinctively, I struck her to subdue her and chased after the guy out the door."
He hit her in the head with the butt of his gun and chased her into the street.
When the homeowner came around the corner he had his gun drawn, but he noticed right across the street there were a bunch of Woodland police offiers there with their guns drawn. He decided to drop his.
All four suspect burglars were arrested. The woman, Angela Zuniga, 38, was stopped by the first officer on scene. Two other suspects, Arthur Tunstall 43, and Esteban Torres, were tracked down in a stolen vehicle, police said.
The fourth suspect, Jason Peck, 45, was later arrested at his residence.
The suspects were charged with vehicle theft, burglary and conspiracy and booked at the Yolo County Jail.
Zuniga was treated at UC Davis Medical Center for her head injury.
The homeowner is grateful no one got seriously hurt, although the woman arrested was carted away in an ambulance.
"I'm a very spiritual person and I felt that God was guiding me through this whole process," he said.
