R. Callaghan Jr.

A drunken homeless man driving a stolen U-Haul truck fled from York City Police, destroying a charcoal grill and damaging an amphitheater as he drove through Lincoln Park, according to police.

After crashing into a nearby garage, Randolph F. Callaghan Jr. jumped out of the stolen U-Haul and took off on foot, charging documents state.

When officers found him a few minutes later hiding in bushes behind the 800 block of Atlantic Avenue, he resisted arrest and later claimed he was merely sleeping in the bushes, according to his arrest affidavit.

Callaghan, 54, of no fixed address, remains in county prison on $75,000, charged with fleeing or attempting to elude police, receiving stolen property, driving under the influence, resisting arrest, institutional vandalism, driving with a DUI-related suspended license and running a stop sign.

The allegations: According to the affidavit, Officer Michael Jordan was driving along Roosevelt Avenue about 11:40 p.m. Saturday when he spotted the stolen truck, which was parked in a lot. As Jordan turned around, the truck drove to Fahs Street and parked.

The officer pulled alongside the U-Haul truck, held Callaghan at gunpoint and ordered him to show his hands, documents state.

Instead, Callaghan put the truck in reverse and took off, tires squealing, police allege.

Jordan and other officers chased Callaghan as he drove onto Chanceford Avenue, turned onto Tioga Street and turned again on Parkway Boulevard, according to the affidavit.

Into park: That's when Callaghan drove through Lincoln Park, leaving tire marks on the amphitheater there and driving over a stationary charcoal grill, according to police.

He then drove back onto Parkway Boulevard, fled onto Roosevelt Avenue and turned right into the quarry at York Building Products and eventually made his way to Pacific Avenue, which is a dead-end street, the affidavit states.

He turned onto a driveway at 809 Pacific Ave., struck the corner of the garage there and bailed out on foot, police allege.

He was found a few minutes later in bushes across the street, police said, then briefly resisted arrest.

Refused blood test: Callaghan smelled of alcohol and slurred his words but refused to submit to a blood-alcohol test, according to the affidavit.

Under Pennsylvania law, a suspected intoxicated driver who refuses to submit to an alcohol test can automatically be charged with DUI.

Callaghan denied driving the stolen U-Haul truck, but admitted he's an alcoholic, documents state.

It's unclear whether he's retained an attorney.

-- Staff writer Liz Evans Scolforo can also be reached at levans@yorkdispatch.com.