GADSDEN, Ala. — An Anniston man was arrested and charged with burglary in Etowah County, according to a news release from Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin.
Joseph Branon Buckelew, 38, was charged with one count of second-degree burglary, which is a felony, Investigator Seth Williamson said.
Buckelew was found Saturday morning inside a residence on Smith Chapel Road, Boaz. The elderly resident woke up about 7 a.m. to find Buckelew, dressed only in his underwear, lying in the living room floor. He made his way into the home by forcing open the front door. Several items inside the residence were damaged by Buckelew before he passed out in the floor.
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After Buckelew was startled by the resident, he ran from the home. The resident sought help from a neighbor, who pursued Buckelew with a golf club, according to the release. He was taken into custody a short distance down the road by Sardis Police Chief James Harp and Etowah County Deputy Kip Williams.
Deputies had responded to the Smith Chapel area much earlier Saturday morning to a report of an intoxicated person near the roadway, but were unable to find the person.
Authorities believe Buckelew was the individual who prompted the call.
Buckelew is in the Etowah County Detention Center on $5,000 bond.