Eric Edson: Robbery suspect evaded Vermont cops for 2 weeks while escaping on bike, tractor and kayak
BURLINGTON, VERMONT: Eric Edson, an armed robbery suspect who eluded capture for two weeks, was arrested on Thursday, September 7.
The Vermont man who was accused of robbing a Burlington store on August 24 was wanted since then. He allegedly impeded and assaulted two law enforcement authorities and is involved in the theft of a sailboat and other vehicles.
How did Eric Edson evade capture?
According to police, Edson eluded capture on foot, on a stolen bike, in a vehicle, and on a stolen boat. He was taken into custody on Thursday, September 7 after he was spotted fleeing in a kayak on a river, reported NBC News.
The 52-year-old man was also seen driving a John Deere tractor he stole. He abandoned the stolen dump truck later, as per surveillance footage.
Following his arrest on Wednesday, Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad stated, "Because of the unusualness of Mr. Edson's various modes of flight, from cars to bikes to paddle boards to sailboats to tractors, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that Mr Edson is a dangerous person."
How did police locate Eric Edson?
The two-week-long chase began on August 30 when Burlington cops responded to a report of a man passed out in a running vehicle.
Police found that the vehicle matched the description of one used in a previous robbery.
When officers attempted to wake him, Edson fled the scene at a high speed and used the vehicle to assault both officers.
He then evaded capture on foot and a stolen bicycle. Later he fled police on a stolen sailboat on Lake Champlain. The Coast Guard then intercepted Edson.
However, he managed to escape after the sailboat ran aground at the base of lakeside cliffs.
Edson was spotted in a kayak on the Lamoille River situated in Georgia, Vermont on Thursday after Vermont State Police received a tip.
He ran away after landing the kayak and jumping into the river. The suspect then swam to the southern shore but was caught by game wardens, and troopers.
Sgt Michael Filipek of Vermont State Police said Edson was "an individual that displayed a propensity for violence and it certainly put the community, the public in a sense of unease."
Edson who suffered injuries on the run was taken to a hospital for evaluation. According to Vermont State Police, his arraignment is expected to be held on Friday, September 8.