A late Friday afternoon incident at a Log Landing Road home initiated another manhunt by Effingham County Sheriff’s deputies.

According to ECSO reports, a man returned to his Log Landing Road home and discovered an intruder in his residence. The intruder was packing clothes he apparently wanted to steal and was cooking on the victim’s stove.

"He didn’t know who the person was," ECSO spokesman Detective David Ehsanipoor said.

The suspect was described as a black male with a blue shirt and white jeans.

The intruder took a knife and forced the homeowner to a bedroom, eventually using duct tape to restrain the homeowner to a chair.

"He told the homeowner that if he called the police, he would kill him," Ehsanipoor said.

The homeowner heard the suspect starting his truck and was able to free himself from his bindings. He retrieved a firearm and went outside and approached the intruder.

"He actually had the suspect at gunpoint on the ground," Ehsanipoor said.

The homeowner called the sheriff’s office and informed them he had the suspect detained and had a gun directed at the intruder. But as deputies approached, the suspect, with the homeowner’s attention apparently distracted, got up and ran into the nearby woods.

Deputies, including off-duty officers who were called in, set up a perimeter around the home, and air support and a K-9 bloodhound team from Reidsville were summoned for help.

"We’re hoping somebody will be able to track him down," Ehsanipoor said. "If anyone in the area sees anything suspicious, we ask for them to give us a call. We were utilizing all resources."

Ehsanipoor also noted the homeowner had the presence of mind to alert deputies that he had a gun and was using it to keep the suspect at bay.

"The homeowner did what he thought he had to do," Ehsanipoor said. "He was trying to protect himself, protect his house, and the guy was about to take his vehicle."