Staff report

LIBERTY — A couple told Trumbull County 911 dispatchers that someone invaded their 960 Royal Arms Drive home at 3:46 a.m. Monday and assaulted them.

The couple was awakened by the noise of someone breaking into the home.

The burglar was described as black, wearing dark clothing, a mask and a scarf, according to a 911 report.

“He was a large heavy-set man,” the male resident told the 911 dispatcher.

“He threatened myself and my wife. He told me to get out of bed, grabbed and choked me.”

The couple could not provide a clear description of the burglar, because of the darkness of the home, according to the police report. They could make out his frame, because he kept lighting cigarettes.

He demanded money as well as the location of the family safe, according to the 911 report.

The male gave the burglar the cash — described as a couple hundred dollars — that was in his wallet.

“We don’t have a safe,” he told the dispatcher.

The burglar then ran out the home’s front door, according to the report. The couple did not seek medical attention.

Police believe the burglar climbed up the side of the house to the roof at the back of the house, where he was able to climb into the bedroom window, according to the report.

Austintown provided its police dog to help track the burglar, according to the report.

Shortly after 4:35 a.m., the suspect was tracked heading toward Sampson Drive and Tibbetts Wick Road. But no arrest has been made as of Monday night, and police continue to investigate.

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