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HOME, LAWN & GARDEN BULLDOGS ON THE BRINK Carpet Barn to hold special event for Bread Basket this weekend 8 PAGES Halton Hills Bulldogs are just one more loss away from elimination PAGE 8 www.theIFP.ca Tuesday, July 10, 2012 Halton Hills' award-winning newspaper serving Acton & Georgetown 28 Pages 50 Cents (+HST) Police applaud senior's bravery during harrowing experience By LISA TALLYN Staff Writer The Georgetown senior who was taken hostage, assaulted and held at knife-point in her home recently is coping pretty well after the harrowing experience but is still frightened to be alone. Pearl, 86, who didn't want her last name used, had a nice surprise and a break from her worries Saturday, however, when two Halton Police officers-- Acting Sgt. Paul Rudall and Sgt. Stephanie Miloknay, who had responded to the call-- stopped by with flowers courtesy of Vanderburgh Flowers and whisked her and daughter June off to Toronto for afternoon tea at the King Edward Hotel. Pearl had worked at the hotel parttime for a couple years as a coat-check girl in the early 1960s when the family lived in Toronto. She worked full-time at Eaton's in the alterations department for more than 30 years, but took the job at the hotel to help pay off their mortgage. The hotel had flowers for Pearl as well when the officers, who didn't stay for tea, dropped the mother and daughter off Saturday. June said Pearl was "very surprised" and really enjoyed the afternoon. Rudall said they organized the outing to let Pearl know of the community's support for her and to say "well done, good job" in how she handled the ordeal. "She seemed to brush it off so easily," said Rudall. On the morning of Thursday, June Halton Regional Police Sgt. Stephanie Miloknay and Acting Sgt. Paul Rudall, who had responded to the call that day, present 28, Pearl was home alone after June and son-in-law Alan had gone to work when she heard a voice in the kitchen about 11 a.m. Thinking it was her son she went in to see him but found a strange man standing there instead. "He was warning me," she said. "He told me to do as I was told, and not to try to get out the door." She said he threatened to drag her down the stairs and was brandishing a knife at her. He had barricaded the doors with furniture and had been eating freez- flowers to Pearl, before driving her to an afternoon tea in Toronto. Photo by Jon Borgstrom out, "that's what started the anger." Rudall said two officers-- Const Paul Webber and Const. Duane Higgins, a rookie officer being coached by Webber-- were the initial responders to Pearl's call. He said when they got to the house through the window they could see Pearl inside, but they couldn't get in the door because it was locked and barricaded. They went around to a window and saw Pearl with an unknown male, he said. See POLICE, pg. 5 ies and drinking pop in the basement before Pearl saw him. At one point he had a shower and changed into Alan's clothes. He left his dirty clothes in the hamper, June said. "He said he was Santa Claus, he could stop the birds from singing, he could stop the clouds," Pearl said. "I said, just you behave yourself. He just started to tell me he was in control and he was staying until it was dark. I kept saying, go down the stairs, go down the stairs." Pearl managed to call police about 2:15 p.m., and when the man found Vi s i t o u r s h o w r o o m Quality & Service You Can Count On! 332 Guelph Street, Georgetown (Across from Canadian Tire) ZZZDFKLOOHVPD]GDFD LQIR#DFKLOOHVPD]GDFD 3KRQH 3KRQH 7 R O O I U H H )D[ · your window & door professionals · 905-702-0885 www.bathstudio .ca 341 Guelph St., Unit 3 Georgetown 905.873.0236 www.buy-wise.ca info@buy-wise.ca · awarded readers choice 18 times ·