Police Replace Couple’s Bullet-Riddled Chairs

GARDEN GROVE — Thelma and Earl Witte’s quiet life together was shattered this week when a car thief who broke into their home was shot to death by police.

The Wittes suddenly became witnesses, their home turned into a crime scene and their favorite chairs--now bullet-riddled--were taken away as evidence, police said.

But thanks to a few police officers, part of their comfortable past returned to them Friday--in the form of two blue rocker-recliners.

“These people were traumatized by this thing, and none of it was their fault,” Police Capt. Dave Abrecht said.

So police went to Costco Wholesale on Friday, took pictures of two recliners that they had in mind and brought the photos to the Wittes for approval.

“They said ‘OK,’ and about four of us went and bought the recliners and delivered them,” Police Investigator Dale Walker said. “They were really pleased. It kind of gave them back a little normalcy in their lives.”

The trauma began when Jarred Joe Arnett, 19, of Garden Grove reportedly led police on a chase in a stolen car. Arnett crashed the car into a pole in Stanton and ran to a mobile home park, police said.

The teenager stormed into the Wittes’ home and struck 89-year-old Thelma Witte in the head, authorities said. Police busted in and shot Arnett to death. He was not armed.

Thelma and 86-year-old Earl Witte were hospitalized after the shooting but neither suffered serious injuries.

Walker later learned that the Wittes were saddened that their favorite chairs, which they had owned “for years,” had been confiscated as evidence.

“They don’t get out a lot . . . so watching television, the ‘Wheel of Fortune’ and stuff like that, is like their lives,” Walker said. “They still had an old couch to sit on, but it wasn’t really comfortable.”

Police raised about $500 from Costco, the Kiwanis Club and the Garden Grove Police Assn.

“Now they’re able to sit down and watch TV and relax again.”