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Couple Charged With Home Invasion At Friends' Chatham Apartment

CHICAGO (STMW) -- Dale Roberson said his wife's friend, Linda Alford, was difficult to get along with. So he and his wife had distanced themselves from Alford, 48, a Chicago police crossing guard, and her husband Dennis Alford, 60, a CSX railroad transportation cop.

On Sunday, "shocked" was the only word he could come up with to describe how the Alfords — his former "drinking and barbecue buddies" — allegedly burst into the his home on Friday and attacked him and a friend.

Now Linda and Dennis Alford each face five felony counts of armed home invasion. On Sunday, Cook County Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil set Linda Alford's bail at $300,000. Her husband was ordered held on $350,000 bail.

Earlier on Friday, Roberson said he received a barrage of harassing phone calls from the couple, according to Roberson and prosecutors. But the fireworks didn't explode until Roberson answered a knock later that evening at his home in the 300 block of East 79th Street in the Chatham neighborhood.

Dennis Alford burst in, displaying a holstered .40 caliber Glock, while shouting: "I am a federal officer," according to prosecutors and a Chicago Police report.

"I tried to close the door on him; he forced it open with his hand," Roberson said when reached by phone Sunday. "The fight started from the living room and went to the kitchen."

Fists flew as Dennis Alford allegedly beat a friend who was visiting Roberson, an account prosecutors confirmed.

Roberson's friend eventually fought back and the two rolled around on the floor, Roberson said. That's when Linda Alford came to her husband's assistance and started punching the man, prosecutors said.

Linda Alford later grabbed a kitchen knife and tried to attack the man who was struggling with her husband, Assistant State's Attorney LaShunda Cooperwood said.

Prosecutors said Roberson stepped in to restrain her and was slashed on the hand during the struggle.

At some point, Roberson said, he was "hit in the head with a hot sauce bottle" by Linda Alford.

The couple were eventually subdued until police could arrive, Roberson said.

Prosecutors said Linda Alford, who was previously a state home-care worker, has since been fired from her crossing guard job.

In an emailed statement, CSX said it "is cooperating with the investigation into the circumstances around Dennis Alford's arrest." A police report indicates his law enforcement ID and badge were returned to the company.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2015. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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