A Queens man who tried to avoid arrest by climbing into a tree Wednesday, refuses to come down after more than 48 hours, police said Friday.
nypost.com
NYC man evading arrest finally leaves tree after 48 hours
By
Craig McCarthy and
Larry Celona
October 8, 2021 3:52pm
Updated
A 44-year-old man wanted for an alleged assault remains in a tree on 145th Avenue in Jamaica, Queens. Matthew McDermott
This guy’s escape attempt is getting pretty squirrelly.
A Queens man who
tried to avoid arrest by climbing into a tree Wednesday, refused to come down for more than 48 hours, police said Friday.
The 44-year-old man, who was wanted in connection to an alleged assault, has camped out in the tree outside a home on 145th Avenue in Jamaica since 2 p.m. Wednesday, police said.
He had been peeing in the tree and surviving off some food and glucose pack officers gave him Thursday, according to police sources.
The cops had put the provisions on the roof and the 44-year-old jumped over to grab them, but quickly returned to his perch, the sources said.
At one point overnight, though, sources said the man was eating leaves.
[IMG alt="Queens: EDP barricaded in a tree at 225th Street and 145th Avenue in queens.
"]https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/man-in-tree-5.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=683[/IMG]Neighbors told cops that the man has often hidden in that tree, according to sources. Matthew McDermott for NY Post
[IMG alt="EDP barricaded in a tree at 225th Street and 145th Avenue in queens.
"]https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/man-in-tree-1.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=1024[/IMG]The 44-year-old man has camped out in the tree outside a home on 145th Avenue in Jamaica since Wednesday. Matthew McDermott for NY Post
Spectators with binoculars and phones watch the stranded suspect in the tree. Matthew McDermott
Cops were first called to the house on Wednesday for a report of an assault on a woman.Matthew McDermott for NY Post
Police were also spotted Friday afternoon leaving another bag of food for the man, who climbed halfway down the tree to retrieve it.
Around 5 p.m. the man climbed down, went inside and police backed off.
The man, whose name was not released, was seen standing in the Queens house, talking with people through an open front door.
Cops were first called to the house on Wednesday for a report of an assault on a woman.
But when officers arrived, the suspect climbed into a tree from the roof.
NYPD Hostage Negotiators were in and for days to try to convince the man to come down.
Apparently, it wasn’t his first time up in the tree.
The NYPD hang a bag of food for the “tree man.” Matthew McDermott for NY Post
Authorities park on 145th Avenue in Jamaica, Queens. Matthew McDermott
Neighbors told cops that he had often hidden in that tree, according to sources.
“He has spent nights in the tree before,” sources said.
One police source griped to The Post, “I don’t know why the cops didn’t just say, ‘Fine, stay up there,’ and go sit around the corner.”
“Then when he comes down, just grab him,” the source said.
The NYPD may return to bring the man psychological evaluation and serve the warrant for the alleged assault.
Police have yet to persuade the alleged suspect to get down from the tree.Matthew McDermott