AMERICAN Jim Tully’s hours-long walks to and from work in the Pocono Mountains, where he has been repeatedly stopped by police in a case of mistaken identity in the manhunt for a Pennsylvania cop killer, may be coming to an end.

    News of the factory worker’s run-ins with authorities searching for fugitive Eric Frein, wanted in the Sept. 12 shooting death of one state trooper and wounding of another, has sparked a crowdfunding campaign to buy him a car.

    Donations have been pouring in and by Friday the campaign had raised nearly US$16,000, more than six times the original goal of US$2,500.

    “I’m overwhelmed with the support from the community and the area,” Tully said Friday. Tully, 39, who says friends tell him he looks like Frein from a distance, said he would use the cash contributed by more than 700 people over two days to get a vehicle to get to work.

    The crowdfunding idea came from the daughter of a former co-worker, Tully said.

    A state police spokesman said troopers were aware of Tully and that he had been stopped walking through the search area, but had no further comment. (SD-Agencies)