Elderly couple harmed in home invasion

December 24, 2007 01:01 pm

— By CINDY BISHOP
cindy.bishop@gaflnews.com

ARABI — A jealous boyfriend looking for his estranged girlfriend entered an Arabi residence on Dec. 15 and allegedly assaulted the elderly couple who lived there.
W.L. Parks Jr., 36, of Eastman was arrested by the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office on charges of aggravated assault, battery/family violence, cruelty to children (first degree), burglary, criminal trespass and terroristic threats and acts as a result of the incident.
According to reports from the sheriff’s office, Cpl. Avery Hillman responded to the residence at 4460 Bedgood Ave. in Arabi in reference to a subject breaking out windows at the home.
On arrival, Hillman was met by the complainant who stated the Parks had already left the residence, but not before breaking out three windows at the house to try and attempt injury.
The victim told the deputy that she and her 67-year-old husband, had been assaulted by Parks. She said Parks allegedly broke into the house by breaking a pane out of the front door and reaching in to unlock the door. The victim also said her husband had recently underwent brain surgery and when he attempted to confront Parks, was struck in the head on the surgical scar. The female victim said she was then struck in the face with a beer can by the suspect while trying to defend her husband.
Witnesses at the scene said the suspect appeared to be extremely intoxicated and said he was looking for his ex-girlfriend, whom he also hit in the face before she could get away. The witnesses also said the suspect threatened to kill all of them.
Parks then chased his girlfriend’s 12-year-old son and allegedly tried to hit him with an iron pole, but the juvenile managed to escape to a relative’s home to call 911.
The suspect fled from the scene and ran to a nearby residence to hide. Deputies searched the residence and found where the suspect had been there as there was a fresh trail of blood inside the house. Deputies searched a second home where the found the suspect hiding. He was taken into custody and treated by Crisp County EMS for the injuries he sustained when the broke the front door glass. He was then taken to Crisp Regional Hospital for further treatment and later taken to the Crisp County Detention Center.