Woman, 64, held suspect at gunpoint

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Authorities in Florida said a 64-year-old woman wielding a .38 caliber revolver helped nab a suspect who tried to pass through her yard while fleeing police.

Karen Granville helped officers catch Roderick Willis, 22, Daytona Beach police said.

Willis, 22, led police on a short chase around 3 a.m. Tuesday, ditched an orange Dodge Charger, believed to be stolen, outside of Granville's home and attempted to pass through her back yard on foot, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reported Friday.

Granville, who had been up late watching TV, said she looked outside when she heard a police helicopter above her home and saw Willis attempting to scale a fence to get out of her yard. She said she grabbed her gun and ran outside.

"My adrenaline was just flowing at 100 mph," she said. "I just said, 'Stop right there [expletive] or you're going to be dead where you stand."

Willis was charged with fleeing and eluding law enforcement, driving with a suspended license, use of a vehicle to commit a felony, possession of marijuana and possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute. He was taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail and later released on $7,500 bail.

The car was returned to its owner, the Hertz car rental company.

Police Chief Mike Chitwood said he doesn't support vigilantism but residents have a right to protect themselves and their property.

"They're fed up with everything," he said. "People have to do what they have to do."