Southampton Police Catch Home Intruder After Chase

At about 9:40 a.m. on Friday, May 9, Southampton Village Police responded to a 911 call from a 21-year-old woman living on Breese Lane, reporting a masked, knife-wielding intruder inside her house.

The police arrived on the scene shortly after the woman’s father, who had run after the fleeing intruder heading north on Breese Lane.

Police joined the pursuit, which led them into the backyard of another house on Breese Lane. Helped by other responding officers, they subdued the intruder with a Taser and took him into custody.

The would-be burglar, identified as James Edward McErlean, Jr., 56, of East Hampton was charged with burglary and attempted robbery, as well as assault, two counts of menacing, and criminal possession of a weapon, all felonies. McErlean was also charged with Criminal Possession of a weapon, Obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest, criminal trespass, and possession of Burglars’ Tools, all misdemeanors.

The Southampton Village Volunteer Ambulance took the woman whose home had been invaded to Southampton Hospital, where she was treated for facial injuries and a laceration to her hand.

At his arraignment, McErlean was sent to the Suffolk County Jail in Riverside, where he is being held without bail.