Louisville Slugger makes big impression on intruder

An intruder apparently learned the hard way the answer to the question inscribed on a baseball bat — "Are You Feeling Lucky?"

Clearfield police said a man tried to break into a home with a homemade tomahawk after shooting at another home and punching a woman. He was knocked out after being hit in the head repeatedly with a baseball bat.

The whole thing began early Friday morning at a home near 200 West and 300 North in Clearfield. Police said a man went to a home with a friend and got into a fight with the people already gathered there.

"We heard comments from one that it was over the fact that he was a sex offender," said Clearfield Assistant Police Chief Greg Krusi. "One of them was calling him a 'mo' — short for molester. That's when he got mad and they told him to leave."

On his way out the door, Krusi said he punched a woman in the side of the face. A few hours later, police say the man returned with a gun and fired a shot at the woman's home. He apparently returned a half-hour later, walking around outside the home.

A few minutes later, police got a 911 call from a neighbor who said a man had just tried to break into their home.

"He's looking for more trouble, and this time he finds it," Krusi said Friday. "He goes to the neighbor's house, knocks on the door and wakes the homeowner who sees him coming in through the window. He grabs his trusty Louisville Slugger and goes to town on him."

Officers said the bat had the words "Are You Feeling Lucky?" inscribed on it.

"He is truly a stupid criminal," Krusi said.

When paramedics arrived, the man was on the front porch with a bleeding head wound. He was taken to Davis Hospital where he is being treated for his injury.

Police said that when he is released, Danuel "Chuckie" Baird, 24, will be booked into jail on investigation of aggravated burglary, discharging a firearm at a dwelling and assault. Baird is a registered sex offender who was convicted in 2004 of attempted child sex abuse, a third-degree felony.

Krusi said the bat-wielding homeowner faces no charges.

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E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com