Man, 78, faces charges after scuffle with police

The resident fought with police officers, the report said.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LIBERTY -- An elderly township man recently faced a masked intruder in his Wilson Avenue home -- but ultimately found himself stunned and charged with two felony counts.
Ralph Alexander, 78, and a few others were watching television in the living room of his Wilson Avenue home just after 5 p.m. Saturday.
A police report says a man in his 20s, wearing a red hooded sweat shirt, jeans and a red bandanna over his face, came through a side door, brandishing a gun and demanding money.
Alexander refused to give the intruder any money and the intruder ran away with only spare change off of a kitchen table. Police searched the immediate area but could not find the man.
But Alexander's actions after the arrival of authorities and the search for the intruder, as detailed by police, are what led to his arrest.
Alexander was standing in his driveway, holding a shotgun and seemingly upset when officers arrived. Officers reported they asked Alexander to put the shotgun down several times, but he refused -- saying he would kill the intruder himself if given the opportunity.
Situation escalates
Eventually one officer ordered Alexander to turn over the shotgun and extended his hand to retrieve the weapon.
Alexander, however, is said to have pulled the gun back and pointed it at police. Reports say one officer grabbed the shotgun while another grabbed Alexander -- who "reached for the trigger and fired one round into the ground."
Officers eventually managed to disarm Alexander and take him to the ground where a struggle continued. One officer was kicked in the knee; officers then used a stun gun on Alexander.
Alexander faces two counts of felony assault on a police officer.
jgoodwin@vindy.com