IRVINE : Burglary Suspect Shot by Homeowner

A homeowner shot and wounded a burglar Friday who broke a sliding glass door with a mallet and entered the house, Irvine police said.

Police arrested Stephen Benjamin Hyzdu, 35, an unemployed San Diego man, in the 3900 block of Hendrix Street as he ran from a house about 2:15 a.m., Irvine Police Lt. Sam Allevato said.

A man broke into the home of Jonathan Clark with a croquet mallet, Allevato said. Clark and other family members were at home at the time, but none of the family was injured in the incident.

Clark, 37, a geological technician for an Irvine firm, told police that he and his wife were asleep in an upstairs bedroom when they heard breaking glass. His wife dialed 911 as Clark got a .357 Magnum from the bedroom, police said.

Clark then lay at the top of a stairwell and peered into the dining area downstairs, Allevato said. Clark told police he saw someone breaking the sliding door with a mallet and entering his home.

Clark told police that he yelled, “Get out! Get out!” repeatedly to the intruder, who was said to be holding a mallet in his left hand.

When the intruder did not leave, Clark then fired a shot at the man, who was standing 25 to 30 feet away, Allevato said. The man was struck in the right wrist. He dropped the mallet, then ran through the kitchen and out of the home and in to the street.

Irvine police officers responding to the burglary call stopped Hyzdu outside the home as he was running into the street. Hyzdu was arrested without incident, Allevato said.

Hyzdu was taken to Western Medical Center-Anaheim for surgery to his right wrist. Hyzdu is being held on suspicion of residential burglary.

The shooting “appears to be justifiable,” Allevato said. He said an investigation will continue.

Clark declined to comment about the shooting incident, saying, “I have nothing to say.”

Police recommend that should a burglar enter a home, an occupant should dial 911 and that, if possible, the caller should stay on the line.

People should, if possible, avoid confronting a burglar, police said.