Fugitive Caught at Homeless Encampment Near Saddleback Church

Posted by Peter Schelden. Written by City News Service.

A 57-year-old man wanted for trying to break into a Lake Forest home and getting into a scuffle with the residents was arrested today on charges of burglary and assault with a deadly weapon. 

Jerrel Joseph Gower was arrested about 8:30 a.m. along a creek bed near Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, spokesman Jim Amormino of the Orange County Sheriff's Department said.   

Authorities received multiple tips from the public about Gower's whereabouts, and a deputy recalled seeing him near a homeless encampment near the church, Amormino said.

Read more about the alleged crime here.

Deputies set up a stakeout there this morning and arrested Gower without incident, Amormino added.   

Gower's last known address was in Mission Viejo, Amormino said.   

Gower was charged Thursday with first-degree burglary, assault with a deadly weapon or force likely to produce great bodily injury, battery with serious bodily injury, all felonies. He also was charged with assault and battery, both misdemeanors, according to court records.   

Gower also faces sentencing enhancement allegations of inflicting great bodily harm. He was wanted on a $50,000 arrest warrant, Amormino said.   

Just past midnight Wednesday, Gower is accused of trying to get into the home in the 20900 block of Parkside, Amormino said.   

A woman who lives there with her husband and two children heard a male voice outside and saw a strobe light in her backyard, Amormino said.    A man then began banging on the front door and when the woman started opening it, he forced his way in, he said.   

The woman's husband and a daughter rushed to her aid and tried to detain the intruder, but he knocked them down and ran off, Amormino said. A neighbor who heard the commotion tried to chase the man but lost him, he said.   

Outside the house, deputies later found a flashlight on strobe setting and two glow sticks attached to black leather gloves, Amormino said.   

Amormino said the occupants who scuffled with the intruder were “banged up” and reported minor injuries.