SMITHFIELD TOWNSHIP -- Four men are locked up in Bradford County, accused in a violent home invasion. Isaac Clark of Milan, Bryant Ashby of Milan, Dakota Walters of Athens, and Bradley Stroud of Athens face charges including aggravated assault, burglary, attempted robbery, and making terroristic threats.
State police say early Tuesday morning, the four broke into a home in Smithfield Township looking for money.
"It never happens, like rarely ever have I heard of a home invasion anywhere near the area honestly,” said Caelan Carlin of Sayre.
State police say the four believed there was "a large sum of money" inside the house on Church Street and so they broke a window to get inside.
Troopers believe they covered their faces, demanding money from the 64-year-old man who lived inside alone.
The man told investigators he had a golf club, swung at them several times while they threw various objects at him, including a wooden cabinet door and metal vacuum cleaner.
The homeowner called 911 and the attackers ran away.
"It's scary. It's scary. I mean, when you're out in the country, it's very scary that people are out there looking to profit from other people,” said Joyce Newman of Windham.
State police say Isaac Clark turned himself in, confessing to the crime and then the others admitted their roles, too.
People who live near the victim did not want to appear on camera, but say the victim in this case has had trouble with the law himself and they're not surprised to hear he was attacked.
Caelin Carlin says he knows one of the accused, Bradley Stroud. Carlin says Stroud had tough times.
"His house burning down and stuff, it would tempt you to do some pretty bad stuff I guess if I was in his situation. I don't know, it is kind of shocking honestly."
State police say the victim had to be hospitalized with injuries including cuts.
