A man wanted in New Jersey on charges tied to the alleged assault of two Newark police officers spent roughly three hours barricaded in a Raleigh-area attic before surrendering to law enforcement. The standoff ended without injuries, but it added a tense final chapter to a nearly yearlong fugitive search.
According to WCTI, authorities identified the man as Isaiah P. Ketchens, who was living in the Raleigh area after fleeing New Jersey. When officers moved to arrest him, he refused repeated commands to come out of the attic before eventually giving himself up.
Fugitive Search Leads Investigators From Newark To Raleigh
The U.S. Marshals Service said Ketchens was wanted under an arrest warrant issued by the Newark Police Department on Aug. 1, 2025. The warrant alleges aggravated assault against two Newark officers and several weapons offenses.
The arrest involved the U.S. Marshals Service, Newark police, the New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force and the Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force. Officials said Ketchens surrendered after approximately three hours, and no officers or civilians were injured during the operation.
New Jersey Charges Stem From Stolen Dirt-Bike Investigation
Details released by the Newark Department of Public Safety allege that two officers were responding to a stolen dirt bike advertised on Facebook Marketplace in July 2025. Police said Ketchens tried to flee on the bike, a struggle followed, and he allegedly used an officer's pepper spray against both officers before escaping.
A handgun loaded with ballpoint ammunition was recovered at the scene, according to Newark officials. The pending charges include two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, disarming a law enforcement officer, two counts of resisting arrest, unlawful weapons possession, possession of prohibited weapons and obstruction of justice.
Extradition Proceedings Are Expected To Follow
Ketchens was processed in North Carolina after the Raleigh arrest and is expected to face extradition proceedings before being returned to New Jersey. The charges remain allegations, and the case will proceed in court rather than ending with the attic standoff.
