Prairie City break-in leads to burglary charges

A Newton man is facing second-degree burglary and assault charges today after a weekend break-in of a house in Prairie City ending with the alleged assailant leaving the residence with a broken arm and laceration to the head.

According to a spokesperson from the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, 36-year-old Jeffrey Allen Waddell “forcefully entered the home of Shawn Housely intending to cause bodily harm” Sunday afternoon. Authorities said that Waddell intended to confront Housely believing the Prairie City man was involved in the burglary of his home at 4985 Legion Street in Newton Saturday night.

An official report states that Waddell arrived at Housely’s residence on South Norris Street in Prairie City and forced his way past an unidentified male at the door. The subject told Waddell that Housely would not come out to confront him, so Waddell entered the residence and engaged Housely, breaking numerous objects in the process.

Witnesses told police that Waddell returned to his vehicle grabbing an ax handle while Housely followed. The alleged assailant then chased Housely back into the house where Housely grabbed a metal construction level, and the two men began swinging the potentially sharp objects at one another.

The investigation revealed that Housely broke Waddell’s arm during the struggle and struck the intruder’s head with the level causing profuse bleeding. Waddell was then held down by Housely and the unidentified male at the home when a woman present during the attack, identified by authorities as Jody Brown, “begged” the two men to let Waddell free.

Waddell left the scene and drove himself to Skiff Medical Center for treatment. He was later located at his home and taken into custody at 6 p.m.

The defendant was transported to Jasper County Jail, but was released Monday on a $12,000 bond.

Housely currently is being charged with violation of a no contact order for a presumably unrelated incident earlier Sunday morning when he allegedly left a three minute voice message on his ex-girlfriend’s cell phone. He was taken to the Jasper County Jail and released Sunday afternoon.

Waddell’s initial appearance in Jasper County District Court has yet to be scheduled.