News Nearby: When He Saw Burglar, Decatur Man 'Went Ape Mode'

David Kennerly said he's not an aggressive guy.

But when he woke up in the middle of the night Dec. 3 and found a burglar in the living room stealing the flat-screen television, "I flipped out," Kennerly said. "I went ape mode."

The 40-year-old Turner employee, wearing only pajama bottoms, did exactly what law enforcement officers don't recommend. He confronted the man, screeching and grabbing him by the shoulders.

"He was a little bigger than me and in good shape," Kennerly said. "The only thing he said was shut up. He hit me with the TV."

Kennerly said he may have gone down, but he's not sure because everything happened so fast. The man ran down the hallway to the front door.

"I ran after him and threw him off the front porch," Kennerly said.

He said the man slowly got off the ground, put the television into a white van parked in the driveway and drove down Adams Street.

"Once he was out of the house I was able to think rationally again," Kennerly said.

The excitement started when Kennerly's wife, Nadine, heard the sound of splintering wood in the downstairs part. She thought the Christmas tree had fallen over, but it was really the burglar kicking in the front door.

She telephoned 911 when the ruckus started. The kids slept through the excitement.

The suspect was described as a black male 25-30 years old, about 6 feet tall and 200 pounds. He had a dark complexion, short hair and wore a red plaid coat. The white van he drove may have been a DeKalb County government vehicle that was stolen that same day.

Kennerly can't explain why he acted out of character.

"I know that rationally what I did was not wise," he said. "It was a zero to 60 kind of thing."

The adrenalin kept Kennerly awake about a day and a half. His leg was bruised and fingers scraped.

"I'm really thankful I didn't get hurt more," he said, "and that he guy wasn't hurt more."