The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office says a New Smyrna Beach man held a suspected would-be burglar at gunpoint, until deputies arrived.

Investigators say the whole thing started at around 11:15 a.m. on Saturday morning. A woman in the home called 911.

“He was riding his bicycle in our backyard – riding around,” the woman told a dispatcher about a stranger on the property.

Deputies say the woman’s husband walked outside to check it out. He says he found the man standing at the door to his garage with his hand on the doorknob.

Investigators say the homeowner told the suspect to get on the ground and he complied.

“He’s on the ground at gun point, ma’am,” the man told the dispatcher. He also said, “He’s cursing at me. I’m out here with my wife. Please get them here.”


Deputies say once they got to the home, they found a syringe, tools and gloves on the man – who’s been identified as 39-year-old Patrick Edwards.

According to an incident report, Edwards told them he was lost and looking for a neighbor but they weren’t buying it.

Edwards was charged with attempted burglary and possession of burglary tools.