SHARON

A Farrell man was arrested Sunday after police said he nearly hit a policeman with his car and then led police on a brief chase with children in his car.

Maurice Lamont Atwood, 34, of 1110 Hamilton Ave., was arrested at 5:17 p.m. in the 800 block of Spearman Avenue, Sharon, on charges of aggravated assault, fleeing and eluding police, fleeing to avoid apprehension and two counts each of recklessly endangering another person and endangering the welfare of children, police said.

State police were looking for Atwood who had escaped a halfway house Aug. 13, police said. Police who were patrolling for Weed and Seed spotted Atwood in a car in a parking lot at Budd Street and New Castle Avenue, police said.

When police started to approach the car, Atwood threw the car into reverse, nearly hit one of the policemen, police said.

Atwood -- who had a 7-year-old and a 3-year-old in the car with him -- led police on a short chase before he jumped out of the car in the 200 block of Mesabi Street, police said. Police said they ran after Atwood, catching him on Spearman.

The children in the car were not Atwood's, police said.

Atwood was arraigned before District Justice Lawrence T. Silvis, Worth Township, and taken to Mercer County Jail after failing to post $50,000 bond. His preliminary hearing will be 9:30 a.m. Sept. 5 before District Justice James E. McMahon, Sharon.

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Kristen Garrett at kgarrett@sharonherald.com