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16 weapons stolen in home invasion; relative arrested

Timothy M. “T.J.” Stone, 19, of Indiana has been charged with four felony counts, including theft, complicity to aggravated burglary, complicity to kidnapping and complicity to aggravated robbery. He was arrested in connected with a home invasion on Headgates Road in Fairfield Twp.

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By Michael D. Pitman, Staff Writer Updated 4:34 PM Tuesday, January 26, 2010

FAIRFIELD TWP. — When Troy Purdin answered his front door recently, the last thing he expected was to have a gun to his head and his safe full of guns stolen.

He also was surprised by who the suspect was.

Timothy M. “T.J.” Stone, 19, of Indiana — Purdin’s wife’s cousin — brought four others with him to the Headgates Road home on Jan. 21 in an attempt to steal a 16 weapons and a safe. Stone was arrested on four felony charges, including theft, complicity to aggravated burglary, complicity to kidnapping and complicity to aggravated robbery.

Purdin, 26, said around 7:15 p.m. Thursday he and his son, 3, heard a knock on his door.

“As soon as I opened the door I said, ‘T.J., what’s up? I’m getting ready to —’ and before I could say ‘leave,’ here comes in two black guys,” he said. “One had a gun, put it right to my head and made me back up (into the living room). This was all in front of my son.”

The man with the gun “stood over top” of Purdin while the others went up stairs and then downstairs. The man with the gun walked Purdin to his basement. His son was still in the living room.

Two of the black men carried out the safe with the weapons — most of them loaded, he said. The Purdins both have permits to a carry concealed weapon, the husband said.

Investigators said they believe there was another person waiting outside during the robbery.

Purdin’s wife and daughter were at a cheerleading practice during the invasion. Purdin said his son hasn’t shown any noticeable negative effects after witnessing the robbery, but he is a little scared of the dark and timid of watching cartoons by himself.

Purdin said Stone had come to town asking to visit and catch up. After his visit, the Purdins had “a bad feeling” about Stone and decided not to have him back over.

Purdin said his wife told him no a couple times after that first visit. The next time he came over was Thursday.

“We hadn’t seen this kid since he was like 10 years old,” Purdin said.

No other arrests have been made. The others involved face felony charges, including theft, aggravated burglary, kidnapping and aggravated robbery.

Stone will be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, at Area II Court in Hamilton. He posted bond, jail officials said.

Anyone with information should call Fairfield Twp. police at (513) 887-4406, ext. 8.

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5112 or mpitman@coxohio.com.

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