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An Eatontown man was arrested Wednesday after he asked an 11-year-old girl if he could hide in her house in an attempt to elude police, according to a news release from the Ocean Township Police Department.

Michael T. Thompson, 28, Eatontown, was seen fleeing Wegman’s Supermarket on foot Tuesday after he allegedly stole items from the store.

Shortly after officers lost Thompson in the Wanamassa Section of the township an Appleby Drive resident called police headquarters to notify them a man had entered the back yard of their home and asked the 11-year-old girl he found there if he could hide in her house, the release said.

The girl ran into the house and notified her mother, who called police.

Thompson fled the area and was eventually picked up by Officer Raheem Carter on Fifth Avenue in Asbury Park. He told the officer he had ingested an unknown controlled dangerous substance during the chase and was taken to Jersey Shore Medical Center, the release said.

Thompson is charged with shoplifting, obstruction of justice, defiant trespassing and harassment.

He also had several outstanding warrants from several other state municipalities.

He was transported to Monmouth County Correctional Institution in lieu of $25,157 bail.

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