LONDON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – A man from North Carolina was arrested Thursday evening in Laurel County following a theft and trespass incident, according to Laurel County Sheriff John Root. Rodney Merida, 22, of ShawBoro, North Carolina, was taken into custody around 5 p.m. near the intersection of Highway 490 and KY 3094, approximately three miles north of London. According to the sheriff’s office, deputies were sent to a trespass complaint. When they got there, law enforcement observed Merida, who ran away on foot. Following a search, officers located him hiding in an abandoned house nearby. Investigators determined that Merida had allegedly entered the back of a van on a property along KY 490, stolen several items, and left on foot when the property owner confronted him. Merida reportedly refused to cooperate with arresting officers but was eventually taken into custody. He is charged with: Fleeing or evading police – third degree Criminal trespassing – third degree Theft by unlawful taking – contents from a vehicle valued at $1,000 or more but under $10,000 Resisting arrest Menacing Merida is being held in the Laurel County Correctional Center. Categories: Featured, Local News, News Tags: Arrest, crime, Evading, Laurel County, local news, London, News, North Carolina, Theft