A Troy man was charged Wednesday with burglarizing and robbing two elderly residents in separate incidents.

John D. Mendenhall, 25, was arrested shortly after police say he forced his way into a 71-year-old man’s residence, robbed him and struck him in the face with the victim’s own pistol.

The incident took place at approximately 6:30 a.m. at a residence in the 500 block of Folmar Street.

“The victim was actually at his back door when this occurred,” said Sgt. Benny Scarbrough of the Troy Police. “The suspect pushed him back into the residence … and demanded money from the victim.”

The victim’s pistol was stolen during the incident and at one point police say Mendenhall used that pistol to strike the man in the head. The victim was treated and released from Troy Regional Medical Center.

“An undisclosed amount of money and jewelry were taken,” Scarbrough said.

Scarbrough said the victim was able to describe his attacker and police spotted a suspect matching the description shortly after the incident occurred.

Mendenhall was charged with one count each of robbery in the first degree and burglary in the first degree in connection with Wednesday’s incident. Bond on the charges was set at $120,000.

In addition, police have charged Mendenhall with the Oct. 27 burglary and assault of a 60-year-old woman at her residence in the 100 block of Montgomery Street. Scarbrough said the woman heard a noise at her back door around 1:30 p.m. that day and when she went to investigate “the suspect pushed his way in.” The woman was pushed and struck with a metal pipe during the incident. An undisclosed amount of money, jewelry and personal property were taken.

Mendenhall was charged with first degree burglary and first degree robbery in that incident, with bond set at $60,000 for each charge.

Scarbrough said Mendenhall was being held in the Pike County Jail pending a probation revocation hearing. Mendenhall is on probation for attempted murder from a May 2006 incident in which Mendenhall was charged with shooting another man.