DENVER (KDVR) — A terrifying experience for a Denver family earlier this month, when they woke up to a stranger inside their home. This happened early on Nov. 7 around 3:30 a.m. at the Root family’s home in the north of Denver.
While it was a first for them, they hope it was also a last. Kevin and Sarah Root were asleep upstairs when they heard a noise.
Originally, they thought it may be one of their four kids, but as it continued their concern grew.
“Heard heavy footsteps coming up the stairs,” Kevin said. “As a parent, you know your kids’ footsteps, and this was not any of our kids.”
Kevin got up to check what the noise was and opened up the door.
“We had our door slightly cracked and I saw the shadow go by and that just is a sinking feeling,” Sarah said.
A man was on the staircase right next to the bedroom door, having broken the lock on the front door.
“As I heard him coming up, I said, ‘Who is this?’ I just yelled, thinking, ‘Let me just let him know, like, we know you’re here. We’re awake,'” Kevin said.
They say the man never spoke a word but continued up the stairs, fear crept in as thoughts raced that he could be armed with a gun or knife from the kitchen counter. Now he was heading towards where the kids were sleeping.
“As a mom it’s just your worst nightmare. It’s terrifying,” Sarah said.
“There comes a moment where you’re like, ‘This is me. I’m a husband and a father, it’s on me to do something,'” Kevin said.
While Sarah called 911 from the bedroom, Kevin took matters into his own hands.
“It was just one of those, like, ‘This is my moment.’ So, I jumped out of the bedroom, and I pushed him down the stairs,” Kevin said.
He says the man fell all the way to the bottom, knocking some pictures off the wall and leaving a dent in the molding. He took a video as police arrived minutes later while the man laid on the floor.
The man eventually went peacefully into custody; all he took from the home was a fall decoration from the porch.
“We did find the freezer was open. He left the chicken nuggets alone, he left the waffles alone,” Kevin said.
While the family was given quite a scare, they’re glad it wasn’t worse.
“We’re just thankful that everyone is ok,” Sarah said.
Now, 36-year-old Charley Cooley faces a felony second-degree robbery charge. His record shows this isn’t his first robbery offense, having been arrested in September for another felony robbery charge committed earlier this year.