Residents in a northern Utah city are coming to the defense of a man who was arrested and faces charges for shooting at burglars as they fled from his house.

Layton police arrested 64-year-old Clare Niederhauser last week after he fired one shot at a car and another at a fleeing burglar. He was arrested on suspicion of two counts of reckless endangerment.

Layton Police Lt. Shawn Horton says the shots were unlawful because the burglar had dropped the crowbar and was fleeing the property.

But Niederhauser's supporters say he is being unfairly punished for protecting his home. They say the arrest sets a precedence that homeowners can't protect themselves.

They have launched a blog urging people to call police to complain and contribute to a legal aid fund, http://supportclare.blogspot.com/. According to the blog, the Layton city prosecutor and Niederhauser's attorney reached an agreement Thursday of "charges that both sides are comfortable with," but said details of the agreement would likely be released Tuesday afternoon.