Dad fights intruder while family escapes

Idaho Falls police said a would-be robber was brought down by a father who fought to protect his family.

Officers responded to the 700 block of Hoopes around 10:10 a.m. Monday after Josue Andres Rodriguez, 23, of Dubois, allegedly held a couple and their child against their will in an apartment.

Kacy Elliott was supposed to be out of town on a business trip, but he came home to celebrate his daughter’s third birthday. He certainly wasn’t expecting to respond to a violent intruder.

Rodriguez approached Elliott outside the apartment.

“(The) gentleman walked up, asking if he could use a phone and if he could get in the apartment over there,” said Elliott.

Elliott’s girlfriend asked the man a few follow-up questions.

“He come in, he actually shut the door and locked it and kind of started threatening us,” said Elliott.

Elliott told his girlfriend to lock herself in the bedroom. She hid the little girl in the closet while Elliott tried to comply with the intruder.

“He proceeded to ask me how much money I had, so I showed him my wallet,” he said.

But things took a violent turn.

“He threw his jacket on the table, and we kind of argued a little bit more, and then he punched me,” said Elliott.

So Elliott did what he believes any dad should do.

“I then attacked him. Threw him on the ground there and choked him out,” he said.

Rodriguez passed out, but Elliott thought the intruder was dead.

The struggle gave Elliott’s girlfriend enough time to call 911 and escape through a window with her daughter.

Rodriguez was taken Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center to be treated. As soon as he was released, he was arrested on second-degree kidnapping and burglary charges, police said Wednesday.

The complex manager said in an emailed statement that he always puts the safety of his tenants first and that he is impressed by law enforcement’s speedy response.

As for Elliott and his family, they are moving because of what happened Monday morning.

“I don’t know what would have happened if I wouldn’t have been here,” said Elliott.