Police: Dad holds down burglary suspect as kids hid in closet
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A teenager had to think fast when an intruder broke down the door and ransacked her family's southwest Houston home.
It happened Thursday morning in the 7300 block of La Paseo as an eight-, 14- and 16-year-old were home alone.
Fourteen-year-old Selena Rivas and her two sisters hid in a closet nestled among ruffled princess dresses as a man ransacked their home.
Rivas had heard somebody break down the door. Mom and dad were at work, and the babysitter was at the store.
"So I had to quickly get them into the closet. Then she was crying because she had to go to the restroom and she was here crying, worrying about what's going to happen," Selena said.
"I was praying that he just leaves and someone gets him before anything happen," eight-year-old Ashley Rivas said.
As the suspect loaded up a TV, an Xbox, and jewelry into his car, Selena called her parents, then police. Finally, she ran out into the kitchen and grabbed the knives.
"I gave her one just in case something happened to me, she would have something to throw," Selena said.
Thankfully, that wasn't necessary.
After a few minutes, their parents raced inside and tackled the intruder in the kitchen. They say 25-year-old Max Rodriguez was a former employee, angry to have lost his job.
Now, he's in police custody.
"There was like blood all over the thing. My sisters were all scared. That's when I called 911 for them to come in. They brought him down," Selena said.
Rodriguez is charged with burglary of a habitation. A court appearance has not yet been scheduled for him.
