LEESBURG - A Leesburg man was injured in the second armed robbery in as many days in Kosciusko County.
According to a police report, Johnnie Kreischer, 54, entered his East Shore Park Road home on the southern end of Shoe Lake when he was attacked by two men.
Kreischer told police he entered his home around 6:45 p.m. Thursday, and as he turned a light on, a Hispanic male pushed him to the ground.
Kreischer stated that as he fell to the ground, he observed another Hispanic male who pointed a gun at him while the first suspect put a knee in his back.
Kreischer described the subjects as Hispanic males, both about 5 foot, 7 inches and stocky in build. Both had short dark hair, with one wearing a blue t-shirt with a pattern, and the second subject wearing a black t-shirt with writing on it.
Kreischer stated both suspects spoke very clear English.
According to the police report, the first suspect was holding an L-shaped tire iron.
The report also stated the second suspect began saying, "Keep your face down or I'll shoot you!"
The second suspect allegedly ordered the first suspect to hit Kreischer with the tire iron.
Kreischer said the second suspect told the first suspect to "Smash his head, smash his head or I will shoot him!"
The first suspect then hit Kreischer on his shoulder several times with the tire iron leaving red marks and a knot. Kreischer also suffered head injuries.
Kreischer claimed the first suspect then grabbed a strap from a guitar in the living room and tied Kreischer up with it, then took his wallet and cell phone.
The second suspect allegedly told Kreischer not to look up or he'd shoot him. He then instructed the first suspect to pull the home phone out of the wall.
Kreischer stated the incident took about 15 minutes. After the suspects left, Kreischer was able to get loose from the straps and observed an older style Jeep Cherokee, white or silver in color, driving away from his residence.
A short time after the incident, Kreischer went to a neighbor's house where he contacted police.
Kreischer's neighbor stated the she observed a light-colored Jeep Cherokee traveling westbound on East Shore Park Road.
The suspects took a 870 Remington 20 gauge pump shotgun, a Savage .22/20 gauge Deluxe Mossberg .22, a 1954 Gibson FS Madelyn, a box of Jack Daniels and $1,480 in cash from a money bag from Kreischer's business, Number 1 Stop Bait and Tackle on Ind. 13, Pierceton.
The incident remains under investigation at the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department.
