Homeowner held burglary suspect at gunpoint, called police

GEORGE COUNTY, Miss. (WALA) - Alex Hamblin had quite a scare early Sunday, Dec. 9, when he woke up to find an intruder in his home.

Hamblin said he and his wife were asleep when they heard commotion downstairs around 12:30 a.m.

“I heard the crash and I jumped up, grabbed the gun, loaded it and hollered, ‘Whoever's in my house, I’ve got a gun. I’m going to kill you,’” said Hamblin.

Hamblin hurried to the kitchen while his wife grabbed another gun, dialed 911 and waited at the top of the stairs.

Hamblin said he initially thought it was his son. But as the suspect turned around, he noticed the intruder was wearing his wife’s coat.

“He raised his hands. I said, ‘Drop that jacket nice and slow.’ I said, ‘If your hands go near your pockets, I’m going to kill you,’” said Hamblin. “I sat him down on the living room floor and said put your palms on the ground.”

The suspect, 28-year-old Wilton Dickerson, did as he was told and was ordered to remain still.

“When he pulled off the jacket, I noticed he had a lot of sores on him; and I could tell he was intoxicated on something. So I made the determination if he comes after me, I’m going to have to kill him,” said Hamblin.

He said he checked to make sure no one was accompanying Dickerson and led him outside with a gun to his head. He held Dickerson there until deputies arrived.

Deputies said as they patted the suspect down, they found some pills from his mother, later identified as Clonazepam, in his pockets. They said they also found a change purse, $10 in cash, an ink cartridge, and sunglasses belonging to Hamblin's wife on Dickerson.

According to deputies, Dickerson said he didn’t know what he was doing in the Hamblin’s home nor did he know them. He only said he had left his truck somewhere but could not remember where.

“When I saw it was a young man, I realized I couldn't just take his life unless he was going to hurt me. I didn't fear for my life at the time, but my wife was in fear of hers,” said Hamblin.

Dickerson was arrested and charged with possession of a medication without a prescription and burglary. He remains in George Regional Jail awaiting an initial court appearance.

Hamblin said he wants Dickerson to have a second chance to turn his life around. Hamblin said he hopes others who encounter a similar situation will have the heart to do the same.

Hamblin said, “So many people this past week said, ‘If somebody’s in my house, I’m going to kill them.’ And I said those same exact words. But when I saw it was a young man, I said, this boy doesn’t need to die.”

Sheriff Howell said this burglary is not connected to the rash of burglaries having been committed in the last two months in George County.