Crime & Safety
Police Arrest Car Theft Suspect at AA Meeting
Phillipsburg man accused of stealing a car, and later headbutting a city officer.
Easton police entered an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting inside a city church Saturday morning to arrest a man accused of having a stolen car.
The man, Brian Michael Mulrooney, 23, of Phillipsburg resisted arrest and at one point head-butted an officer in the back of his head, court records say.
Police spotted the stolen Chevrolet Lumina with New Jersey license plates on the unit block of N. 12th Street and entered the church at 1151 Northampton St. around 10:40am.
Oliva said Mulrooney gave him a set of keys for a Chevrolet that he said he owned. But the keys fit the locks and ignition for the stolen Lumina, Oliva said.
While Oliva tried to get Mulrooney “live scanned” – capturing fingerprints by electronic means – the suspect pushed officers with his body and attempted to escape, forcing Oliva to physically restrain the suspect.
It was during the restraining process that Mulrooney head-butted another officer, Oliva said.
Mulrooney, of 584 Roseberry St., was charged with receiving stolen property, aggravated assault and resisting arrest. He was arraigned Saturday night by on-duty District Judge Joseph Barner of Lower Nazareth Township and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $10,000 bail.
