Teen celebrating birthday chases home invasion suspect away with samurai sword

HARRISON TWP., Montgomery County — A man is in jail after deputies said he tried to break into a Harrison Township home while four children were inside. According to family members, the kids called 911 and a 15-year-old celebrating his birthday Wednesday chased the suspect away with a samurai sword he recently bought on vacation.

Dispatch first received a 911 call about the attempted break-in in the 5200 block of Susan Drive in Harrison Township about 1pm Wednesday.

At the time, four children, ranging from age 11 to 15 were at home while their parents were at work.

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“The kids called in a panic saying someone was trying to break into the house,” the father, who asked WHIO not to identify him, said. “I tell you what, I was scared to death.”

The father pulled up home surveillance on his phone and saw the man causing damage to his property, including appearing to hammer the pool. Video later showed the man pulling away rapidly in a car.

According to a 911 call obtained by News Center 7, the suspect broke a window and tried to get into the house.

“(The kids) screamed and ran and hid in the closet,” the father told WHIO’s Sean Cudahy. “Oldest boy – he actually grabbed a samurai sword and ran after the guy.”

Surveillance showed the man rapidly pulling away in his car a short time later.

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The family gave the video to deputies, who were able to track the suspect down at Speedway on North Main Street, a few miles away.

The man, later identified as Rodney Smith, is in the Montgomery County jail facing a preliminary charge of aggravated burglary.

The father is relieved his family is safe.

“I was so worried – more about them than any of my personal belongings,” he said. “I just wanted to make sure my kids were ok.”

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