One man is under arrest and two more are being sought in connection to a late night home invasion.
At 12:33 a.m. Wednesday dispatchers received a call from 165 Pandora Drive in Columbus reporting an armed robbery.
Mildred Drungo reported to police, she and six friends — Bobby Leach, Pearlie Leach, Linda Deloach, Marcus Thompson, Shondra Deloach and Betty Jackson — were sitting in the kitchen of Drungo”s home when three black males wearing ski masks broke into the house through the side door. The trio threatened the group with a gun and golf club and demanded they get on the ground and hand over their belongings.
Thompson reported to police being hit over the head with the golf club and Bobby Leach said his wife, Pearlie, had a gun pressed against her head during the ordeal.
Thompson was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle where he was treated and released.
The bandits made away with an undetermined amount of cash and jewelry.
Drungo told police she recognized the voice of one of the assailants as belonging to Thomas Austin Jr., aka “Mohawk,” 37, of 156 Pandora Drive in Columbus.
Austin was found by police at 2205 Eighth Ave. S., after they saw the suspect”s maroon Chevy Lumina parked nearby. He was taken into custody at 4:03 Wednesday morning and charged with felony armed robbery.
Columbus police are still seeking the other two suspects in the case.
“We have some suspects in mind,” said Columbus Police Department Capt. Fred Shelton.
No bond or hearing for Austin has been set.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.