Sledgehammer break-in, assault lands Lawton man behind bars

A Lawton man is in jail on $50,000 bond after he was arrested for allegations he broke into his neighbor’s home with a sledgehammer and assaulted two of her kids with the cudgel.

Alejandro Josue Browder, 37, made his initial appearance Thursday in Comanche County District Court where he was charged with first-degree burglary, records indicate. The crime is punishable by between seven to 20 years in prison.

Lawton Police Sgt. Howard Pierce stated he was called on Dec. 30 to 1617 SE Clover to the report of a burglary in process and, after being told Browder was the suspect, detained him.

The woman said she’d been home with her three children when Browder beat on her door and yelled about his phone. She said she sent the kids to the garage and Browder used a sledgehammer to knock the door open and entered, trapping the woman and kids inside, the probable cause affidavit states. The woman and her daughter were able to escape to call for help.

Pierce stated Browder assaulted one of the woman’s daughters with the sledgehammer, knocking her to the ground and causing her abrasions to her back. He then assaulted the woman’s son with the hammer, causing abrasions and choked him with his hand, leaving fingerprints on the boy’s neck, the affidavit states. He then took the boy to his parents’ room and forced him to look under the bed for his phone while he checked the dresser drawers.

After that, Browder is accused of wrapping his arm and the sledgehammer around the boy and of taking him to his home next door, according to the affidavit. Neighbors were able to get the two separated before Pierce arrived.

As part of Browder’s bond conditions, he is to have no contact with the neighbors or their home. He returns to court at 9 a.m. March 28 for his preliminary hearing, records indicate.