A man who fled from Picayune Police officers and hid in a private home was additionally charged with residential burglary.

Assistant Chief Jeremy Magri said the incident report from the arrest states that as officers were on patrol on Sept. 1, they recognized a man outside of a convenience store that had a warrant out for his arrest for an Aug. 23 incident that involved the charges of disorderly conduct failure to comply, resisting arrest by fleeing and simple assault domestic violence. 

On Monday, the officer stopped to speak with the suspect, identified as 51-year-old James Eugene Hart of 823 Herrin Dr., the incident report states. 

As the officer asked Hart to place his hands on the car while he ensured whether Hart had an outstanding warrant, Hart refused, said he knew he had a warrant and fled on foot to a nearby residential area, the incident report states.

A pursuit ensued until the officer saw Hart flee to the rear of a home located on Weems Street, prompting the officer to check the backyard for Hart, the report states.

Instead of finding Hart, the officer noticed a rear door had been left open. The officer announced his presence a couple of times before coming into contact with an elderly resident who was disabled and blind, the report states. In an effort to secure permission to search the residence the officer used the registration information on a vehicle parked outside to contact a resident, who said they would send someone to the home, the report states. Officers staged around the home as they waited on the resident, but before the resident arrived Hart exited the home and surrendered to the officers, the report states.

Further investigation determined a juvenile was also inside the home at the time of Hart’s uninvited entrance, and the juvenile told Hart several times that he was not welcome and had to leave, the incident report states.

Due to the illegal entry of the home, Hart was charged with residential burglary in addition to the charges of disorderly conduct failure to comply, resisting arrest by fleeing and the previous warrant, the report states.