Burglary suspect stabs homeowner with antler, police say

A suspected garage burglar who was confronted by a West Central homeowner stabbed the man in the forehead with a deer antler, police said.

Matthew Marcotte, 53, stabbed the homeowner during an altercation in an alley Thursday night, according to witnesses. The homeowner told police he had caught several prowlers in his backyard recently and saw Marcotte rummaging through an unattached garage nearby with a flashlight. When Marcotte emerged from the garage holding several apparently stolen items, the homeowner asked what he was doing.

Marcotte dropped the property, according to the homeowner’s son, who was also present. A scuffle ensued during which Marcotte plunged the antler into the homeowner’s forehead. Police arrived and took Marcotte into custody.

The homeowner was alert and answering questions from police following the attack.

Investigators did not say whether the antler was among the items stolen from the garage. One officer wrote in his report that the alley was littered with property, including a barbecue, following the confrontation.

Marcotte faces charges of first-degree armed burglary and is being held in lieu of a $10,000 bond. According to court records, he’d been released from jail earlier this month after an arrest in September on an assault charge. Marcotte is accused of attempting to strangle a woman in August.