Police chased the man after seeing him near a suspicious car around 1:30 a.m. Monday
PRINCETON - A Somerset man who ran from police after a traffic stop, was arrested hours later after he was found hiding in an abandoned attic with a screwdriver and a weapon, according to a statement from Princeton Police.
Anthony Eason, 20, of Somerset, was arrested after fleeing from police and hiding in an attic (Photo, Princeton Police)Police started looking for the man - later identified as 20-year-old Anthony Eason - after they were sent to investigate a suspicious car parked on Terhune Road at around 1:30 a.m. Monday. Officers believed the car was used by suspects in several burglaries around Princeton, the statement said.
While they were investigating the area, they saw Eason walk out of some bushes on the 100 block of Dodds lane and take off running. Police ordered him to stop but he ignored them and kept running, police said.
Eventually officers gave up their search for Eason - until around five hours later when they went to Harriet Drive to investigate a car alarm, according to police. There, they noticed Eason and tried to confront him but the 20-year-old again took off running. Police called for backup and chased Eason to North Harrison Street, the statement said.
Police heard a loud noise coming from a vacant home on Ewing Street nearby and went in, looking for Eason. They found him in a crawl space in the house's attick. He was holding an object in his hand and a "threatening" manner, police said. The officers repeatedly ordered him to drop the object and finally got Eason to comply. They took him into custody and found that the object was a piece of plastic tapered at one end. He was also carrying a flat screwdriver, police said.
"Going into that confined space that they had to go into and encountering what they encountered, I think they did a great job," Princeton Police Lt. Jon Bucchere said of the incident.
Officers charged Eason with burglary, eluding, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, obstructing the administration of law and possession of burglar tools.
A bail was set at $150,000 and he was taken to the Mercer County Corrections Center.
Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman