Fair Lawn Burglar Caught After Jumping Off Bridge

FAIR LAWN, N.J. — A burglar was caught Friday afternoon after he jumped from a Lincoln Avenue bridge while police were running after him, authorities said.

Lt. James Corcoran attempted to approach a suspicious man, later identified as Richard Wease, 41, of Fair Lawn, who was walking on Heights Road just after 8:30 p.m., said Sgt. Brian Metzler.

Wease ran away from Corcoran and dropped a bag while the lieutenant followed in his patrol vehicle, ordering Wease to stop, Metzler said.

Wease jumped from the Lincoln Avenue bridge and onto the Passaic River bank below, the sergeant said.

With help from Hawthorne, Paterson, and Fair Lawn police officers, and Fair Lawn police detectives, Wease was captured north of the bridge along the river bank after he fought to escape, Metzler said.

A DVD player and seven DVDs that were taken from a Heights Avenue residence were inside the bag Wease was carrying, police said.

Wease was charged with burglary, theft, obstruction, resisting arrest, resisting by flight, and improper crossing by a pedestrian, Metzler said. Wease had a $2,500 warrant out for his arrest from Jersey City, was sent to the Bergen County Jail on $50,000 bail with no 10 percent option.

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