A man on the run from police in Monroe for more than two months is behind bars tonight in the Union County Jail.

Authorities said they had been hunting for 23-year-old Isaac Long since Nov. 23, when he led them on a chase through city streets with his 7-year-old cousin the back seat of his SUV.

"To have that small child inside the vehicle during a police chase is extremely dangerous," said Sgt. Mike Smith.

Police said the incident began when Long attempted to cash fradulent checks at a BB&T drive-through on West Roosevelt Boulevard in Monroe.

When the teller became suspicious and called 911, officers went to the scene but police said Long took off before they could stop him.

Detectives said Long wove through residential neighborhoods at speeds of 40 to 50 miles per hour.

"Even that speed -- in those residential areas, that is way too fast," Smith said.

When officers thought they had caught up with Long, all they found was his abandoned SUV parked next to a house.

But police said neighbors nearby alerted officers that they had also witnessed a small child jump from the SUV.

"That was the first time we realized there was someone else in the SUV," Smith said.

Officers found the little boy standing alone in front a house a street away. He was able to provide enough information for officers to issue warrants for Long, Smith said.

However, Smith remained on the run until last Friday, when Wingate Police said an anonymous tip led them to an apartment on South Main Street, where they discovered Long had been visiting a friend.

Smith was arrested and faces nearly a dozen felony charges at a court date in March.