SOUTH BEND — An elderly woman held a suspect at gunpoint Sunday night until police arrived, after the man broke into her Portage Road home on the edge of South Bend's northwest side.

St. Joseph County emergency dispatch said they were called to the home about 9:10 p.m. after the woman confronted the intruder, 28-year-old Cyrus Brown of South Bend.

Arriving officers found a screen removed and window broken at the home, where the woman was in the kitchen, still holding Brown at gunpoint, Sgt. Bill Redman of the St. Joseph County Police said.

Brown was involved in a crash near the intersection of Brick and Portage roads. After hitting a utility pole, the man fled on foot, authorities told SBT24/7 News.

He claimed he was being chased by "gang members" who wanted to kill him, but no other vehicle was seen in the area at the time of the accident.

He then broke into the nearby home — which turned out to be a big mistake.

The suspect was taken to the hospital for a broken leg, police said, and then taken to the county jail.

The woman, who was shaken by the incident, was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.