A lack of evidence led to a man avoiding prosecution after being arrested on suspicion of possessing a pipe bomb, Lane County District Attorney Christopher Parosa said.

Eugene police Dec. 3 arrested 43-year-old Melvin David Bennett on suspicion of unlawfully possessing an explosive device when officers identified a device in his vehicle as a pipe bomb.

A day after his arrest, prosecutors formally charged Bennett. But a grand jury did not indict Bennett on any charges relating to explosives.

“There was insufficient evidence to prosecute Mr. Bennett for Unlawful Possession of a Destructive Device,” Parosa said in an email. Eugene police deferred comment to the district attorney’s office.

A grand jury did indict Bennett on a charge of felony fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer in a vehicle.

On the day of Bennett’s arrest, Eugene police said officers arrived at an apartment on the 2700 block of Willakenzie Road with probable cause to arrest Bennett for eluding in connection with an earlier traffic stop. Officers at the apartment blocked a vehicle with Bennett in the driver’s seat to prevent him from fleeing, police said.

Bennett pleaded guilty Dec. 23 to eluding. Lane County Circuit Judge Bradley Cascagnette  sentenced him to 18 months of probation and 10 days in jail, with credit for time served. Bennett also had his driver’s license suspended for one year.