Man Accused of Fleeing From Police Pleads Not Guilty

A New York man wanted for burglary who was found hiding in a child's backyard playhouse after allegedly fleeing from police plead not guilty to eluding Tuesday in Wayne Municipal Court.

Ronald Catti, 32, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was charged with eluding after he allegedly . Authorities attempted to stop the vehicle Catti was driving after Wayne and Little Falls police determined Catti committed a burglary in Little Falls Monday afternoon, police said.

several burglaries that have occurred in the township since late April.

Catti, wearing a grey prison jumpsuit, appeared at the proceeding via video conference from the Passaic County Jail where he is being held in lieu of $150,000 bail out of Wayne.

Attorney William Roca, of Paterson, who represented Catti at the arraignment, entered his client's not guilty plea into the record.

Wayne Municipal Court Judge Peter Weiss said Catti’s bail of $75,000 out of Little Falls would continue.

When asked by Weiss is a U.S. citizen, Catti said “yes.”

Catti is scheduled to appear at a pre-indictment conference on July 16 at the Passaic County Courthouse. If Catti fails to appear, a warrant will be issued for his arrest and his bail will be forfeited, Weiss said.

In addition to the eluding charge, Catti was charged with various motor vehicle offenses out of Wayne. He was charged with burglary, theft and criminal mischief in Little Falls.

Det./Capt. James Clarke said Catti was returning back to the residence he was staying at on Pleasantview Drive when police attempted to stop the Merecedes he was driving.

Catti fled on foot after he crashed the car into a garage at Alps Road and Macdonald Drive, police said.

Authorities found Catti in a playhouse in the backyard of a house on Kossouth Place.

Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office and the state police assisted in the search.

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