Montauk's 'Prince' Kept Judge Waiting

For two hours on Thursday, Dylan Eckardt, the self-proclaimed 'Prince of Montauk,' was a wanted man. East Hampton Town Justice Steven Tekulsky issued a warrant for his arrest at 12:20 p.m. after he failed to appear in court for a conference.

Mr. Eckardt, 37, had been arrested in Montauk on June 20 on multiple charges, including driving while high on drugs. His lawyer, Trevor Darrell, was seen outside the courthouse making many cellphone calls Thursday. 

"His attorney said he is in Manhattan," Justice Tekulsky said, adding that the $1,000 bail Mr. Eckardt had posted after his arraignment June 21 would be forfeited if he did not appear.

At about 2:20, Mr. Eckardt, a Montauk native who had been working as a real estate broker, burst through the doors of the courthouse and sprinted down the hall to the clerk's window. Justice Tekulsky had apparently agreed with his lawyer that if the defendant made it to the court clerk's window by 2:30, the warrant would be recalled, and it was.

On his way out of the building, Mr. Eckhardt, who was fired from his Nest Seekers job a day or two before his arrest, was overheard on his cellphone telling someone, "Just made it by 10 minutes. Taking a helicopter is so much faster."

His new court date is July 21.