Off-Duty Ohio Officer Catches Burglary Suspect Fleeing Neighbor's Home

An off-duty Akron police officer chased and caught a man early Tuesday morning who is a person of interest in multiple attempted break-ins.

Richard Curley, 56, of Akron, was arrested at about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday near Ecton Road and Royal Avenue in Northwest Akron. Police said he broke into a nearby home's enclosed porch and tried to get into the home.

Neighbors nearby have been posting photos of a "prowler" for weeks. Lt. Michael Miller, public information officer for Akron police, said Curley could be involved in a dozen or more attempted break-ins.

Leo Walter, who woke up to a man on his porch, said he's glad the suspected prowler has been caught.

"All of us in the neighborhood were aware of this gentleman who had been terrifying everybody," Walter, 63, said.

Neighbors had seen a man on several cameras attempting break-ins

Walter said he woke sometime after 3 a.m. Tuesday morning to the sound of his doorbell camera going off. It was the first time someone had attempted to get into his property, but he said he was well aware of the problem in the neighborhood.

He said he ran downstairs with his phone. Walter flipped the back lights on and planned to yell at the man if he was still there. When he called 911, he found a plainclothes officer was already chasing the man.

Officer Will Culver, a seven-year APD veteran, lives nearby and had been hearing the same complaints, he said. Culver said a man had been on his property before, which he saw on his own home's cameras. Then early Tuesday, his wife had seen a man on his property.

He said he woke up and went outside. The next thing he knew, a doorbell camera had made an alarm sound. Culver said he then saw Curley and gave chase.

He said he ran after Curley and followed him into another neighbor's backyard, where he tackled him. After that, on-duty officers arrived and arrested Curley.

Curley has been charged with burglary and his vehicle was found nearby, police said. Miller said detectives are aware of several other break-ins where homeowners caught a person on camera.

Victims urged to report incidents to police

The problem, Miller said, is that many people are posting online but aren't making police reports. He said anyone who has been burglarized or had an attempted burglary should call Akron police.

Culver said what he did wasn't special. He said officers get into the business to protect and serve, and that's why he chased after the suspect.

"You're just taking care of your neighbors," Culver said.

Walter said he's happy Curley was caught and that officers don't get enough credit for what they do.

"We're just happy they're here protecting the victims," Walter said.

He also credited his camera for helping to stop the burglary.

"I think they're a great deterrent," he said.

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