John Ramsey Locked Up During Botched Robbery

Atlanta Police Investigating At Scene

John Ramsey surprised a burglar in his Atlanta home Tuesday morning and fought with the man before the intruder fled, police said. John and Patsy

John Ramsey Talks To Reporters About Home Invasion Ramsey called 911 at about 11:12 a.m., EST and said that he had scuffled with a 6-foot "tall black man" in dark clothing during a robbery at his house. Ramsey told investigators that when he returned to his house from Home Depot around 11 a.m., he found a man going down the stairs with two suitcases in hand. "There was a car in the driveway and the doors were all locked upstairs ... so I couldn't figure who was here, if anybody," Ramsey said during a brief interview with reporters. When Ramsey asked the man what he was doing, the alleged intruder said that he was completing home renovations. Ramsey said that he did not believe him and when he attempted to call police, he was attacked. Atlanta police Lt. Michael Fuller told reporters that Ramsey was choked, scratched and then subdued.

When asked by reporters after the incident if he was scared for his life, Ramsey said, "I got to thinking this may not be so good. As it got towards the end ... I got to thinking that this might not end up too good." The alleged robber took Ramsey's wallet, forced Ramsey into a bathroom, tied the door from the outside, and continued to ransack the house, police said. When Ramsey broke free from the bathroom, he apparently ran to his gun vault and grabbed a shotgun, but the intruder had already fled, an Atlanta newspaper reported. Other than receiving several scratches on his face and bruises on his neck, Ramsey was unharmed. Guns and other valuables were believed to have been stolen from the house. "We didn't have a lot. It appeared that he took some clothes. He took my wallet in the fight, and a few other odds and ends," Ramsey said, as his wife Patsy, stood at his side. Police continued Tuesday afternoon to search 4000 block of Paces Ferry Road for the intruder. "So far, we have a vague description, even though Mr. Ramsey is certain that he will be able to identify this person if he sees him again," a police spokesman said at the scene. "We're in the process of getting things together. We will do a composite later today. Of course, we are looking at other some other evidence in the house that might lead to this person's identity." Ramsey is expected be at the Atlanta police headquarters later Tuesday to help officers put together a composite and to take a look at police photos. "We can nail him. I think he picked the wrong house to burglarize," Ramsey said. "He was about 6 foot 1, probably 30 years old, plus or minus, medium-brown skin, short hair, trim, well-dressed. (He) drove a light-gray bronze-colorored like a Chevy Cavalier-kind of car. (He) was well-spoken," Ramsey added. Patsy Ramsey returned to their home from Bible study at about one hour after the alleged robbery occurred.

The Ramseys have been under suspicion since their 6-year-old daughter JonBenet was found beaten and strangled in their Boulder, Colo., home on December 26, 1996. The couple insist that they're innocent and claim that an intruder is responsible. A year-long probe into the murder of the child beauty queen led to no indictment and no arrests. The Ramseys moved to their two-story Mediterranean-style Atlanta home, located in the suburb of Vinings, Ga., after the slaying. John Ramsey told police Tuesday morning that he is unsure whether the alleged robber knew the identity of the homeowners. Police said that do not believe that the murder of JonBenet Ramsey and Tuesday's robbery was connected. Additional Resources:

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