New Yorker arrested in Jersey after two-state chase

HARRIMAN - A Middletown man found out that you can run but you’ll likely get caught when police agencies from two states are chasing in hot pursuit. James A. Eckman, 23, who also lists an address in Washingtonville, faces numerous charges in New Jersey and New York following an incident that began April 19 in Harriman. That’s when Village of Harriman police spotted Eckman’s truck, a 1997 Dodge Dakota, which they said had stolen license plates. According to Harriman Police Chief Gary DeFilippis, Eckman hightailed up South Main Street and out onto Route 17M. The officer called off the pursuit. Two days later, 11 a.m. Saturday morning, Harriman Police officer Louis Cruz spotted the Dodge in Legends parking lot on North Main Street. While waiting for backup assistance from another officer, he attempted to box in Eckman’s truck with his police vehicle. When the officer saw Eckman’s back up lights go on, he moved out of the way and the suspect pulled forward and drove out onto Route 17M. With police in pursuit, Eckman turned up Orchard Drive. Monroe Village Police, who had been alerted to the chase, set up a semi-roadblock on Pine Tree Road but Eckman was able to bypass those officers and went out onto Orange Turnpike, Reynolds Road and up Rye Hill Road. He then went down Lakes Road to Greenwood Lake and into West Milford, N.J., where police there were waiting for him. Police said Eckman struck a patrol car with his vehicle. He then ran from his vehicle with officers in pursuit. He was finally apprehended on Old Lakeside Road by West Milford Police Officer Stephen Stratton and New York State Trooper William O’Connor. During the pursuit, a New Jersey officer injured her knee and was treated at a local hospital and released. Eckman’s vehicle was impounded; he is being held on $50,000 bail in Passaic County Jail. He is being charged with eluding police, assault on a police officer, possession of a weapon (in this case, the vehicle) assault by auto and numerous motor vehicle violations. In New York, Eckman faces charges of reckless endangerment, reckless driving, operating with a suspended registration, license and no insurance.