Cranberry Homeowner Turns Table on Intoxicated Intruder

A Cranberry man awoke early Monday morning to find a stranger standing in his bedroom.

While the intruder turned and ran at the sound of the homeowner’s screams, things didn’t end there.

The homeowner grabbed a semi-automatic pistol he keeps in his closet and chased the suspect through the home, holding him at gunpoint until police arrived on the scene.

According to the criminal complaint filed by Cranberry Police, 27-year-old Matthew Fettis, who investigators said was intoxicated, used an antique wagon wheel found in the yard of the Heston Drive home to break out the basement window at about 3 a.m. Sept. 30.

The Richland Township man then entered the home’s kitchen, took a hard-boiled egg from the refrigerator, attempted to eat it, then spit it out on the floor before entering the homeowner’s bedroom, the complaint said.

After the homeowner discovered him, Fettis fled towards the home’s basement. He made it to the garage, slamming the door shut behind him and holding it there as the homeowner tried to open it from the other side.

After Fettis let go of the door, the homeowner held him at gunpoint while his wife dialed 9-1-1.

When police arrived, Fettis was curled on the floor of the garage while the homeowner stood over him, the complaint said.

Fettis is charged with burglary, criminal trespass, criminal mischief and public drunkenness in the incident. He was taken to Butler County Jail Monday after being arraigned before District Judge David Kovach in Cranberry.

Fettis is scheduled to go before Kovach again for a preliminary hearing at 10 am. Friday, Oct. 4.