By Gary Lloyd
PINSON — A Pinson neighbor held a burglary suspect at gunpoint until Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies arrived on scene Thursday.
At about 3:30 p.m. Thursday, deputies responded to a report of a burglary at a residence in the 7400 block of Mountain Laurel Drive in Pinson. Neighbors spotted three suspects attempting to break into the home and confronted them. While on the way, deputies learned that one suspect was being held at gunpoint and two others had fled into the woods, said Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Randy Christian. They left their getaway vehicle at the house, he said.
Contrell Dreonte Heard
photo courtesy of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
Deputies arrived to find neighbors detaining a 17-year-old male suspect. The suspect was found to be in possession of a pistol. He also had a set of keys belonging to the burglary victim. Other responding deputies located the two other suspects and took them into custody without incident. One was an adult and the other was a 16-year-old juvenile. The adult suspect was found to be in possession of marijuana.
The two juveniles were charged with second-degree burglary and criminal mischief. They were placed in the custody of the Jefferson County Youth Detention Facility.
The adult was identified as 19-year-old Contrell Dreonte Heard of Birmingham. He was charged with second-degree burglary and possession of marijuana . He is being held in the Jefferson County Jail with bonds totaling $6,000.
“This is a great example of neighbors looking out for each other, (and) because of that three criminals were caught,” Christian said. “We love it when the good guys beat the bad guys.”
