One dead after home invasion

By Jim  Ruffalo
on Monday, January 4th, 2010 at 11:58 am

SAN JUAN — The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office continues to sort out evidence from an apparent Saturday morning home invasion that ended with one suspect dead, a second critically injured and one of the victims facing a homicide charge.

According to Nevada County Sheriff Keith Royal, the incident began with a 911 call from a residence on the 12000 block of Tobacco Road in North San Juan.

“The original report said it was a home-invasion robbery with cell phones and other electronic items taken,” Royal said.

However, events quickly escalated when one of the four reported victims managed to free himself, jumped into his pickup truck and began pursuing the two suspects who were fleeing in their own pickup.

“The (911) call originally said the robbers wore ski-masks, jackets with ‘police’ written on them, and badges on chains around their necks. The suspects also identified themselves as members of the ‘Narcotics Task Force,’” Royal added.

Royal said the victim’s truck caught up with the escaping pair, rammed that truck, which eventually struck a tree, killing driver Timothy D. Fitzpatrick, 43, of Elk Grove.

The second suspect, identified as 51-year old Sacramento resident Terry McLeod, suffered a severe head injury and was airlifted to Sutter Roseville Medical Center.

McLeod was arrested upon release from the hospital, and faces charges of homicide, conspiracy, strong-arm robbery,  burglary and false imprisonment. He remains at Wayne Brown Jail on a no-bail hold.

While the robbery reportedly netted electronic goods, Royal said that two large bags of processed marijuana were found at the crash scene, as well as $4,000 in cash and several firearms.

The man who pursued his invaders, identified as 32-year old Christopher Teachout of North San Juan, was arrested at the scene, and will face charges of homicide and assault with a deadly weapon.

“At some point, it has to be asked (of the victim) if the threat remained and if reasonable force was needed for defense,” Royal said, explaining the charges faced by Teachout.

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Site last updated February 7, 2012 @ 1:22 pm; This content last updated December 8, 2011 @ 10:26 pm

Site last updated February 7, 2012 @ 1:22 pm; This content last updated December 8, 2011 @ 10:26 pm