By Eloria Newell James, community@leadercall.com
WAYNESBORO — Fast, efficient police work resulted in the capture of a man who allegedly took part in a home invasion where an elderly woman was robbed.
Waynesboro Police Chief Jimmy Bunch praised officers of the Waynesboro Police Department for their work in capturing the suspect involved in the attack within 12 hours.
Bunch said shortly after midnight on Monday, someone broke into an elderly woman’s home located on South Street in the City of Waynesboro.
“An elderly lady lives at the home there by herself,” the police chief explained. “A man broke into her home and robbed her of an undetermined amount of cash and then attempted to assault her.”
However, Bunch said the suspect later fled the scene on foot.
Bunch said he, Investigator Wesley Waites, Sgt. Brian Everett, Lt. Chris Harris, Lt. Randy Pettus and Patrolman Fred Daniels were notified and they all responded to the call.
“An immediate search of the area was conducted,” Bunch said. “We worked the case and followed up some leads which resulted in a person being taken into custody.”
Bunch said during the investigation, officers arrested 28-year-old Lucas Green around 11 a.m. on the same day of the attack. The police chief said the suspect was taken into custody at a residence off Rankin Street.
Bunch said Green is from Green County, however, he has been living in the Waynesboro area for a short time.
Green was charged by the Waynesboro Police Department with one count of burglary of an occupied dwelling and one count of assault with intent to ravish.
In addition to the local charges, Bunch said the Mississippi Department of Corrections had an outstanding warrant for Green’s arrest for probation violation.
Bunch said he’s proud of his officers and their handling of the investigation surrounding this case.
“The officers did an outstanding. We were able to bring this case to a close within twelve hours,” the police chief said. “These officers did a great job and we were able to make arrest.”
Green was booked into the Wayne County Detention Center.
Green had his initial court appearance in Wayne County Justice Court this week.
Bunch said Judge Charles Britton set Green’s bond for the burglary of an occupied dwelling charge at $100,000 and his bond for the assault with intent to ravish charge was set at $500,000.
The case has been bounded over to the next Wayne County Grand Jury.
Bunch said the penalties for Green’s “charges are enhanced because the victim was over the age of 65.”
Friday, Bunch said, officials with MDOC “has picked Green up and he’s now in the custody of MDOC.”
