CONESTOGA TWP., Pa. — A Lancaster man is arrested after police say he fled police at a high rate of speed with three children in his truck. It started around 10:50pm on Saturday, June 20th. Police pulled over a Toyota pickup truck for an expired registration in the 700 block of Green Hill Road in the Shenk’s Ferry Wildflower Preserve. The driver, Christopher M. Eckman Sr., 36, refused to provide the police officer with any identification or information on himself or the vehicle, which was registered to someone else. The officer detected the smell of alcohol. There were three children in the pickup, ages 8, 11, and 16. After about 10 minutes of interrogation, one of the children blurted out Eckman’s name.
The ensuing records check confirmed there was an arrest warrant for Eckman for DUI and that his driver’s license was suspended for a previous DUI conviction. Eckman locked the vehicle doors and rolled the windows up, refusing to exit. While officers waited for backup, police say Eckman began yelling at the children and forcibly grabbed the wrist of the front seat passenger when she tried to turn the vehicle off. Eckman then put the vehicle into gear and officers attempted to gain entry into the vehicle in an attempt to take Eckman into custody. Eckman then drove away at a high rate of speed southbound on Green Hill Rd. Officers pursued briefly, but stopped chasing Eckman for safety reasons due to the young children in the vehicle and to the rate of speed of Ekman’s vehicle on the tree lined, narrow, windy dirt road. Area police departments were advised to be on the lookout for the vehicle. A short time later Millersville Borough and Manor Township police spotted the vehicle traveling on S. Duke St. in Millersville. Units attempted to stop the vehicle and again Eckman refused to stop. A short pursuit ensued, but again was called off for safety reasons. Eckman later turned the children over to their mother unharmed.
A warrant was issued for his arrest. Eckman was taken into custody by Lancaster City PD on June 24th at a residence in the 1100 block of High St. Eckman is currently at Lancaster City PD being held on the DUI warrant. He will be arraigned later today on the following charges:
Fleeing or attempting to elude Police – Felony: Escape – Misdemeanor: Flight to Avoid Apprehension – Misdemeanor
Resisting Arrest – Misdemeanor: Endangering the Welfare of Children (3 Counts) – Misdemeanor
Driving While Operating Privilege is Suspended (DUI Related) – Summary
Registration and Certificate of Title Required – Summary: Reckless Driving – Summary: Driving Vehicle at Safe Speed – Summary
Carrying and exhibiting Driver’s License upon Demand – Summary: Notice of Change of Address – Summary
Restraint Systems – Summary
Additional charges are being filed by Millersville Borough Police.