The search continues this morning for a Freeport man who jumped onto the railroad tracks to evade police, causing massive delays and suspensions for commuters yesterday evening.

Freeport Police Chief Michael Smith told News 12 officers were patrolling on the platform at the Freeport train station when they spotted a man who was wanted for allegedly stealing a tool from the nearby Home Depot in May.

Authorities said the man jumped off the east end of the platform and ran on the tracks towards Merrick as officials chased. The suspect was able to get away.

The incident forced the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to suspend service to the branch several times to protect the safety of the riders, transit workers and police, Freeport Village Mayor Robert Kennedy said in a statement to News 12.

Several riders who were caught on the affected trains spoke with News 12.

“I think the train stopped like right before Rockville Center, and I think it was delayed for like 15 minutes," Roosevelt resident Richard Green said. "They opened the doors after 10 minutes, but we weren’t aware of what was going on.”

"I wasn't stopped for that long, but at least 15 to 22 minutes," Freeport resident Jeffrey Destine said. "I was kind of frustrated. I was exhausted."

Witnesses said officers swarmed the neighborhood east of the tracks searching for the suspect.

"By Home Depot, Helen Avenue, Goodyear, there were a lot of police," one witness said.

The MTA sent out several service alerts during the height of Thursday's rush hour.

At 6:23 p.m., the MTA said Thursday's 5:30 p.m. train from Grand Central to Seaford was delayed at Freeport due to police activity west of Merrick.

Train service was temporarily suspended on the Babylon Branch due to police activity on the tracks at 6:34 p.m.

At 6:42 p.m., train service was restored with 20 - 30 minute delays on the Babylon Branch. Ten minutes after that, at 6:52 p.m., service was suspended again on the Babylon Branch due to additional police activity on the tracks, again West of Merrick.

At 7:15 p.m., the MTA announced 45 - 60 minute delays on the line following earlier police activity.

The last alert went out at 9:07 p.m., which noted scattered delays on the branch lingered into the night, including impacts to the 8:15 p.m. train from Babylon to Penn Station operating 20 - 25 minutes late and the 8:38 p.m. train from Babylon to Penn Station running 10 - 15 minutes behind.

A spokesperson for the MTA referred News 12 to the Freeport Police Department for comment.

Chief Smith said officers went to the suspect's home b,ut no one was there.

The search for the man is ongoing today.

There have been no disruptions to service on the Babylon branch today.