Webster PD arrests man for October burglary

The homeowner’s shooting of the man determined justified

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Webster, NY - Webster police have arrested the man tied to the burglary on Gravel Road back in October. Richard J. Mettler, 51, was charged for Burglary 2nd Degree and Burglary 3rd Degree, as well as Possession of Burglar’s Tools, a class A misdemeanor.

On Oct. 27, Mettler broke into a detached barn at the area of 690 Gravel Road through an unlocked, lower-level window at approximately 1:15 a.m. The homeowner, who was awake and in a different detached building at the time, heard noise coming from a chicken coop inside the barn. The homeowner confronted Mettler with a 20-gauge shotgun loaded with birdshot ammunition.

Mettler came at the homeowner with a crowbar, at which point the homeowner shot Mettler in the abdomen. Mettler ran towards the homeowner, pushing or grabbing the homeowner and knocking him down. The homeowner then shot Mettler again, hitting his lower back/buttock area.

Mettler fled the scene, eventually acquiring medical attention for his gunshot wounds at Strong Hospital.

Following an extensive investigation, the Webster Police Department determined that the homeowner was justified in shooting Mettler.

Mettler was officially arrested and processed on Dec. 21. He was arraigned before Webster Town Justice Corretore and remanded to Monroe County Jail with no bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 24 at 1 p.m. in Webster Town Court.