Leader Publications

A Niles man suspected of theft tried to escape because he didn’t want his prior record catching up to him.

James Matthew Sanders, 50, of Sycamore Street, received 14 to 36 months in prison from Judge Dennis M. Wiley Monday in Berrien County Trial Court for assaulting, resisting and obstructing police.

“I’m sorry this happened,” said Sanders, who has seven felony and 32 misdemeanor convictions. “I ran because I was scared” officers possessed a warrant for open intoxicants.

“At your age, you’re not going to outrun the police,” Wiley said, ordering Sanders to pay $1,898, including a $400 fine.

On July 18 at 12:39 a.m., police were dispatched to Third and Cedar streets in reference to a theft from American Tree on Front Street.

Sanders was spotted carrying a green weed eater, which he threw down as he ran.

Police chased him to Harding’s Friendly Market at 407 Broadway, where he was Tasered.