Suspect in String of Burglaries Arrested After Running From Police in Princeton

Princeton, NJ -- Princeton Police were able to verbally de-escalate a possibly dangerous situation and capture a man believed to have been involved in several burglaries outside the Princeton area.

Police say they encountered 20-year-old Anthony Eason, of Somerset, in the attic of a vacant house on the 300 block of Ewing Street early Monday morning when the incident unfolded.

Police had responded to a report of a car alarm that went off in the area of Harriet Drive around 6:19 a.m., Princeton Police said in a release on Tuesday. While responding to the alarm, officers spotted Eason for a second time and chased him to the area of North Harrison Street. Several other officers responded.

During the search of the area, police say they heard a loud noise coming from the house, and went in to investigate through an unlocked door.

While searching the inside of the house, the officers noticed a pull down set of stairs that led to a crawl space in the attic.

Princeton Police officers Chris King and James Martinez entered the attic, where they found Eason kneeling alongside the attic opening, holding an 8 inch object in his hand, police said.

Eason appeared to be holding the object in a threatening way, police said.

Not knowing what the object was, Ptl. King ordered Eason to drop the object repeatedly.

Both officers were able to use verbal commands to gain control of the situation and arrest Eason, police said.

Following the arrest, police discovered the object Eason was holding was a “piece of plastic that was larger at the base and tapered toward the end.”

He also had a flat screwdriver with a broken handle, police said.

Earlier in the day, at about 1:30 a.m., officers were investigating a suspicious vehicle believed to be used in several burglaries outside the Princeton area. The car was parked in the area of Terhune Road.

This is when police first came into contact with Eason, as he came out from behind several bushes on the 100 block of Dodds Lane. Police allege he began to run, ignoring their calls for him to stop. They were then unable to find him before receiving the report of the car alarm several hours later.

After being arrested, Eason was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and charged 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.

Eason was transported to the Mercer County Correctional Center in default of $150,000 bail.

The attached image of Anthony Eason was provided by Princeton Police