Wednesday, October 13, 1999

Donna Herndon, 37 of Western Manor apartments, reported a strong-arm robbery late Monday evening.

According to the Austin Police Department, Herndon told investigators she was asleep near 10:53 p.m. Sunday, when she heard a knock on the door to her apartment.

When she went to the door and opened it, she was confronted by two male subjects. One of the subjects punched her in the head and knocked her to the floor, whereupon he held her there by placing a foot to her neck.

The other subject went into a bedroom and when he returned he was carrying two long guns. The intruders left the apartment building and when Herndon looked out her window she saw them get into a dark-colored, Explorer-type vehicle and drive away.

The two long guns belong to Russell Ballard, 43, who described them as a 12 gauge anniversary special shotgun with a decorated, dark-wood stock and a .222/.410 over/under shotgun.

They were taken from a gun cabinet in a closet in a bedroom of the Western Manor apartment occupied by Herndon and Ballard, according to their report to police.

The victim described the intruders to officers as both black males, one short and stocky with a bald head and the other tall and thin.

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call the Austin-Mower County Law Enforcement Center at 437-9400.