Cops: Man Broke Into Nutley Home to Avoid Capture

An East Orange man suspected of fleeing the scene of an accident in Clifton broke into a Nutley home the following day in an attempt to avoid capture, police said.

Khalif T. Ransom was charged with obstruction and burglary on June 1. Ransom broke into an East Centre Street home when police were called because he was peering into cars in the area, police said.

Officers spotted Ransom, who matched the description of the man who was allegedly looking into cars, in a driveway with a group of people, police said.

A woman at the scene told officers the man approached them and asked for water and to make a phone call before ducking away when police arrived. 

Officers searched the home’s basement for the man, who the officers believed resembled the person who left the scene of an accident the previous night in Clifton, police said.

The basement was empty but residents told officers the door into the house may have been unlocked.

Officers surrounded the home and forced their way inside. The officers found and arrested Ransom, who had cuts on his body and what appeared to be a broken right wrist, police said.

Ransom said he sustained the injuries from a motorcycle accident the previous night involving Clifton police in which he fled the scene, police said.

Bail was set at $100,000 with a 10 percent option. After being treated at the hospital for his injuries, Ransom was transported to the Essex County Correctional Facility in default of bail.