Published: August 12, 2008 06:37 am      

Somerset man arrested after violent burglary

Woman goes into labor after incident

A Somerset man was arrested Sunday night following a violent burglary which sent one female to the hospital — in labor.

Somerset Police responded to a report of a fight in progress at the Oakdale Village Apartments on Pearl Drive at 10:23 p.m. Sunday.

Witnesses say Jeff Allen, 34, of High Street, had come to the apartment earlier that evening at the request of the owner, but he was locked out when he became confrontational.

Allen returned to the apartment armed with a metal bat, and unsuccessfully attempted to break down the front door. He then went to the apartment’s rear door, broke out the glass, and entered the apartment.

The apartment’s tenant and a pregnant female were inside, according to Somerset Police Public Information Officer Det. Shannon Smith.

Allen began shouting at the man and woman, threatening to harm them — and at that point, the tenant got his own bat and struck Allen with it.

Allen fled the apartment before officers arrived, but he was stopped a short time later on South U.S. 27 near UK Drive by SPD Lt. Randy Goff.

Meanwhile, the female who had been inside the apartment went into labor and was taken to the emergency room, Smith said.

Neither Allen nor the apartment’s tenant were treated for any injuries, Smith added.

Allen was charged with one count of 2nd degree burglary. He was lodged in the Pulaski County Detention Center, and an investigation into the incident is continuing.