James Eberg Arrested Again; Mother and Son Have Criminal History

After allegedly stealing his neighbor’s 2007 Mercedes SUV, taking it for a hit-and-run through New Haven and escaping police custody on Aug. 21, James D. Eberg, 28, of 22 Elizabeth Street, Branford, was arrested just 48 hours later on Tuesday, Aug. 23 at 5:36 p.m. for prescription drug forgery, use and possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance < 4 ounces of marijuana and second-degree forgery.

Eberg's court date for the recent arrest was set for Sept. 6 and he is due to appear for the second time in New Haven Superior Court on Sept. 12 for the Aug. 21 incident. He has not entered a plea for the Aug. 21 incident.

Prior to the recent arrests, Eberg was arrested by North Haven Police on Jan. 19, 2009 for drug possession – a felony charge – and found guilty. He was sentenced on August, 2010 and served one-year probation.

During the Aug. 21 incident, Eberg’s mother, Vicki L. Eberg, 48, of North Haven was arrested for interfering with an officer. According to Branford police, Vicki was arrested after she charged a police officer while he was placing her son and one other suspect, Jonathan Gargano, 23, of New Haven, under arrest. During the commotion, police stated that James, still handcuffed, fled the scene. He was later apprehended a short distance for the residence in the Pine Orchard area of town, just about one block from the residence of where the car was allegedly stolen. 

Vicki also has a prior arrest record. She was taken into custody by police on July 28, 2008 for crimes committed in late 2007. Vicki was arrested by North Haven Police for third-degree identity theft, credit card theft, and charging more than $500 on a revoked credit card. She was found guilty of all charges.

A source close to the family who wishes not to be named, has stated that the recently arrested mother-son duo have been in and out of trouble for years. In what has become a sad story for the family, the source tells that James has had a difficult past and that Vicki has spent time in jail in other states over the years.