A Slate Belt man is accused of stealing nearly $500 worth of items from an auto repair shop and then escaping while en route to prison.
Charged is Kenneth Long, 20, of the 100 block of Lakewood Drive.
Ellis Williams, owner of Capitol Auto Parts, 1 Capitol Boulevard in East Bangor, reported to police between Jan. 20 to Jan. 23 an unknown person stole two car stereos, a GPS system, Blackberry phone and loose change from vehicles parked on the property. The total value stolen was about $500, according to court records.
Officers were tipped off Long might have played a role in the crime and there was a warrant for his arrest out of the Northampton County Sheriff's Office in a separate theft case.
Officers responded to Long's home at 4 p.m. Wednesday. A woman who identified herself as Long's grandmother told investigators he wasn't home, but the items police were searching for were inside the house.
Home-repair contractor took cash but didn't finish job, cops say
Police seized the items and eventually arrested Long at an apartment in the first block of Broadway in Bangor. Long was searched and marijuana was found in his possession during the arrest, according to police.
Long allegedly admitted to the crime, as well as told investigators he stole cash and candy bars from a trailer on Capitol Auto's property. While at the police station and awaiting to be taken to Northampton County Prison to be arraigned on the charges, police said Long broke free of handcuffs and ran out the garage door.
He was arrested again after a brief chase by police. An officer suffered injury to both hands and knees during the pursuit, court records indicate.
Long is charged with escape, burglary (two counts), simple assault, criminal trespass (two counts), receiving stolen property (four counts), criminal mischief and related offenses. He was arraigned before District Judge Alicia Zito, who set bail at $150,000.
In lieu of bail, Long was taken to Northampton County Prison. The judge ordered he enroll in Pretrial Services, stay away from Capitol Auto Parts and submit to random drug screening.
The judge allowed 10 percent of $150,000 bail if Pretrial Services approved it.
Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
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