ATASCOSA COUNTY -- A would-be thief is resting his broken ankle behind bars after being chased down by gun-toting residents, according to authorities.
"I'm so glad to have pro-active neighbors," exclaimed Patricia Herman. She's patting her neighbors on the back for making a citizen's arrest.
The rural neighborhood took justice into their own hands when they armed themselves against the alleged burglar who was wanted in at least two counties.
It all started on the second floor of a gated home in Pleasanton. The alleged burglar did not heed the warning of the no-trespassing sign. To his surprise the victim appeared with a 20-gage shot gun and no mercy.
Deputies say 30-year-old Dominic Rene Vasquez was trapped between a gun barrel and a window. He chose to run.
"He bailed off an 18-foot balcony and broke his ankle," said Herman.
Deputies say even with a bad ankle he tried to scurry into the bushes and chicken out with the neighbor's flock.
"He's the one who saw him, hanging out on our chicken coop and came out with his pistol and tried to make a citizen's arrest," said Howard.
Reportedly a retired cop emerged from his home armed, and with other neighbors, tackled the suspect until authorities arrived.
Deputies say they recovered the victim's 250 bucks. Deputy Chief David Soward doesn't recommend going after a criminal- but this was the exception.
"He did the right thing and armed himself," said Soward. "In this case it worked out."
Herman agrees. "Perhaps if he didn't want to go back to prison he shouldn't be burglarizing houses," she said.
Deputies say the suspect was in a stolen truck that belonged to a victim out of San Antonio. Wilson County authorities are also expected to connect the suspect to crimes there as well.
