NATCHEZ — Natchez police arrested a man for a recent rash of vehicle burglaries after the man led police on a chase downtown early Wednesday morning.

Interim Police Chief Danny White said an officer was patrolling Martin Luther King Jr. Street at about 3 a.m. Wednesday and spotted Frank James Washington, 21, 294 W. Stiers Lane, reportedly walking quickly carrying a backpack. White said the officer stopped to check to see if Washington was a juvenile out past curfew, and Washington fled.

Washington reportedly ran again when two officers found him hiding under a truck on Jackson Street. The officers caught Washington and later found his backpack containing a camera that had been stolen from the Natchez Grand Hotel, two smoking pipes and crack cocaine.

White said police also recovered three stolen handguns reportedly taken from vehicles by Washington.

Washington will be charged with at least four counts of burglary of a vehicle, White said, for burglaries on St. Charles, Arlington and Orange avenues.

Washington was charged Wednesday with possession of a controlled substance. Burglary charges were not formally filed as of Wednesday evening.

White said police are looking at Washington as a suspect in other recent vehicle burglaries and will probably charge Washington with more than four counts.