Police: Monrovia man goes after burglary suspect with sword, both men arrested

UPDATE: Prosecutors reviewed the case against Jesse Runge on Nov. 15 and declined to file charges against him citing, “insufficient evidence.” Jeremi Weber remained in custody Nov. 18 in lieu of $200,000 bail and was scheduled for arraignment Nov. 19 in Pasadena Superior Court on burglary and drug-related charges.

MONROVIA — A Monrovia man whose home was burglarized by a friend late Tuesday armed himself with a sword in an attempt to take justice into his own hands, officials said. Both he and the alleged burglar, who suffered a minor cut in the confrontation, were behind bars Wednesday.
Jesse Roland Runge, 35, of Monrovia was booked on assault with a deadly weapon following the incident, while Jeremi Hoover Weber, 29, of Monrovia was booked on suspicion of burglary and drug possession, according to Monrovia police and Los Angeles County booking records.
Runge returned home shortly before midnight Tuesday and found his home in the 200 block of Valle Vista Avenue had been burglarized, Monrovia police Lt. Michael Lee said. Among the missing items was Runge’s iPad.
The tablet computer was equipped with tracking software, which Grunge used to determine the iPad was located at the home of his friend, Weber, in the 400 block of East Foothill Boulevard, Lee said.
But instead of notifying police, Lee said, Runge allegedly armed himself with a sword and a pocket knife and headed to the home of his friend to get his property back.
He confronted Weber at his home and began chasing him with the sword and pocket knife, Lee said. Weber suffered a minor cut to his forearm from the knife.
As Weber fled his home, he took with him a backpack which contained the allegedly stolen property, as well as heroin and prescription pills not prescribed to him, Lee said.
Police arrived to reports of a fight, detained both men and seized the backpack, Lee said. Weber was treated at the scene for the cut to his forearm before being taken to jail.
According to county booking records, Runge was being held in lieu of $30,000 bail pending his initial court appearance, while Weber was being held in lieu of $25,00 bail.

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