Deputies: Man broke into 2 Lamar County homes, shot dog

LAMAR COUNTY, Ga. - An off-duty Monroe County deputy is being credited with the takedown of a suspect connected to a couple of home break-ins, one which included the shooting of a family dog.

Investigators said 31-year-old Christopher Jordan broke into a house on Brent Road while the residents were inside. Deputies said he stole a gun then when confronted by the residents in an area where the garage meets the home and shot their golden retriever.

"Even a Golden Retriever which has a very mild temperament with children and all. Even a Golden Retriever would attempt to protect its owner. We don't know why he would shoot the dog," said Major Leslie Holmes with the Lamar County Sheriff's Office.

Major Holmes said Jordan first broke into a home about a mile away on the same road about an hour earlier. The homeowner there told FOX 5 News she was surprised by what she found when she came home.

"I walked in the front door and noticed everything had been strewn out, the refrigerator door was open," said Wendy Bass.

She said the intruder broke in through the back door and then helped himself to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, cookies, crackers, chips, and drink. She said he left his socks and shoes, but stole rubber boots.

"Who could do such a thing? I don't understand. You can clearly see I have kids. I'm just glad none of us were here at the time,” said Bass.

From the Bass household, investigators said Jordan went to the other home where SWAT set up until they determined he was not inside.

They said Jordan fled to a nearby road where he was spotted and detained by an off-duty Monroe County deputy. That deputy had Jordan subdued when Lamar County Deputies arrived.

"The officer had was standing over him on the ground and he was complying at that time," said Major Holmes.

Investigators are trying to determine the motive for the series of bizarre incidents which left someone's pet dead and a couple of families shaken.

"I don't know what to say just out here. We don't have crimes happen like this out here," said Bass.

Jordan, who is from Macon, was booked into the Lamar County Detention Center on multiple charges including home invasion, aggravated assault, and animal cruelty.

He gave investigators no indication why he was in the rural area in the first place, so far from home.