Cobb County

Man with guns, knives spent HOURS breaking into cars and homes, police say

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Police in Cobb County say a man armed with a gun and knives spent about five hours breaking into cars and attempting to open doors that led into houses.

A neighbor spotted him and called 911 and he was found in a retired cop’s backyard, hiding in a pickup truck.

"That made me nervous for me and my kids," one neighbor told Channel 2's Matt Johnson.

She said she called 911 when she saw the man at her house off Old Lost Mountain Road around 9 a.m.

“I thought it was scary and kind of messed up that he was targeting all these houses and he had been doing it all through the night,” the neighbor said.

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Cobb County police set up a perimeter that led them to the backyard of a retired Cobb County police officer who helped keep track of the man.

“We were holding this side of the perimeter,” the retired officer said, asking not to be identified.

He described how the thief came through the woods, over a fence and hid in his pickup truck.

The officer said he didn't hesitate to help protect his family since the man was armed.

“You’re always concerned when your family is here,” he said.

Police arrested Kendel Williams, 26, Monday after they say they found a gun and a knife on him, as well as stolen things from the neighborhood.

The retired officer told Johnson he always knew his brothers in blue wouldn't let him down.

“I knew the guys. I worked with -- still worked -- and I knew they had it under control,” he said.

Police say Williams gave them a fake name when he was arrested but they eventually learned his name and that he's from New jersey.

He now faces six felony charges.