Milwaukee Man Charged after 71-Year-Old Man with One Leg Fought off Home Intruder

A Milwaukee man was charged with felony burglary Monday, in connection with a early March incident in which a 71-year-old Shorewood man with one leg managed to fight off a home intruder — using his crutches to chase him away.

Harry Smith, 43, was charged by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office after authorities used DNA to connect him to the burglary, according to the criminal complaint.

Smith allegedly climbed through a window of the victim's home in the 700 block of East Glendale Avenue March 4, leaving traces of blood behind. A DNA analysis done by the Wisconsin State Crime Lab, showed the blood belonged to Smith, according to the criminal complaint.

Back in March, the victim told Patch that he was sleeping in his bed when he was allegedly awakened by a home intruder.

"I need money. I need money now," the victim quoted the suspect as saying.

However, the victim told the intruder that he was a broke veteran who didn't have any cash.

The 71-year-old then jumped out of bed without his prosthetic leg, picked up his crutches and confronted the man.

"I got out of bed without my leg and told the man to get out," said the victim, who lost one of his legs when a drunken driver crashed into him years ago.

When the suspect attempted to grab a leather coat hanging on a door, the victim said he grabbed the coat out of the suspect's hands and told him to get out of the house.

The suspect left empty-handed.

The victim said he wasn't frightened by the unexpected visitor and that his adrenaline just took over.

If convicted, Smith could be sentened to up to 12 years and six months in prison and/or fined up to $25,000.