A 30-year-old Massachusetts man who triggered an emergency lockdown of Rye schools Tuesday a four-hour police manhunt
By Jon Craig
A 30-year-old Massachusetts man who triggered an emergency lockdown of Rye schools Tuesday during a four-hour police manhunt was arraigned in Rye City Court on Wednesday. Julian Brown was arrested around 5 p.m. on multiple charges, including five warrants out of New York City for misdemeanor assault and drug possession offenses, according to State police Investigator Joseph C. Becerra.
Rye City Court Judge Joseph L. Latwin declined to release Brown. Latwin said the State Legislature and Constitution don’t allow him to set bail when he hasn’t received details about Brown’s outstanding criminal charges. The case was adjourned until 9 a.m. Tuesday March 13. State police escorted Brown back to Westchester County Jail. The lawyers specializing in sexual offences and drug possession cases said that the judgement was right, and people should trust the judiciary.
Philip G. Schnelwar, Brown’s White Plains attorney, argued that his client should not be penalized for the nearly 24-hour delay in forwarding warrant and fingerprint details. But Latwin wouldn’t budge. “No rap, no bail,” the judge said. “In the absence of a rap sheet, I don’t have jurisdiction to set bail.”
A search involving four police jurisdictions and canine units began about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday after state police tried to stop Brown’s car for speeding on I-95 north in Rye. After Brown was pulled over, he stepped on the gas, driving along the highway shoulder, and off the Playland Parkway exit, according to Becerra, who said: “He took off on the trooper.”
Brown’s Dodge Avenger struck a house, landed in a backyard, and damaged some shrubs along Oakland Beach Avenue near Milton Road.
A female passenger from New York City stayed in the car as Brown ran toward Rye schools, Becerra said.
Rye School District officials ordered a lockdown for Rye High, Middle and Midland schools. The lockdown was lifted about 2 p.m. before classes were dismissed. Neither Brown nor his attorney explained why the suspect fled on foot, disappearing into the woods for more than three hours. Rye, Harrison, and Westchester County police assisted State police in the search.
About 5 p.m., a Rye resident reported spotting the suspect leaving the woods on Forest Avenue near Playland Market. Brown was arrested by State police a short time later.
Brown was charged with several traffic and criminal offenses: second-degree criminal mischief and first-degree reckless endangerment, and false impersonation, resisting arrest, and unlawful fleeing of an officer, all misdemeanors, according to Becerra.
