Home invasion arrest leads to recovery of firearms, cocaine and cash

The arrest of a man suspected of committing a home invasion in Beach Park Thursday night led authorities to eventually recover a cache of firearms, cocaine and cash at the home.

About 8:05 p.m., Lake County sheriff’s deputies responded to a manufactured home in the 38200 block of Sheridan Road, Beach Park, for a home invasion.

Deputies found a 67-year-old man with serious wounds to the face and body. He was transported to a hospital where he was treated and released, authorities said.

The man told deputies he was at his home when a previous neighbor, later identified as Brian Wisch, 47, broke into his home by forcing entry through a glass storm door armed with a firearm, authorities said.

Wisch, who has no permanent address, demanded money and obtained several hundred dollars from the man, who said Wisch began striking him with his pistol in the face and body, before fleeing, authorities said.

Deputies searched the area for Wisch but were unable to find him. On Friday, sheriff’s detectives located Wisch at a business in the 16400 block of Russell Road, Wadsworth.

When detectives found Wisch, they learned he had a gunshot wound to the stomach and he was transported to a hospital, treated and released. Detectives learned Wisch was shot by the victim during the home invasion.

After being shot, Wisch began fighting the man, wrestled the firearm from him and struck him several times in the face and body with the victim’s own firearm. Wisch then fled on foot, authorities said.

Detectives recovered both firearms. They learned the victim was selling drugs out of his home and obtained a search warrant. During the execution of the warrant, detectives recovered nearly two pounds of cocaine and roughly $500,000 in U.S. currency, officials said.

Wisch is charged with three counts of home invasion, two counts of armed robbery, and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, all felonies.

Drug-related charges against the 67-year-old man are likely in the future, authorities said.

Wisch is being held in the Lake County jail pending an initial court hearing Saturday morning. The Lake County state’s attorney’s office intends to file a petition to detain Wisch pending trial.