March 18, 2011

Eight-town police chase ends in crash, arrest


BREAKING NEWS
A Derry police cruiser and Crime Sceen Unit, leaving a home at 117 Hampstead Road, where an early morning
 burglary led to an eight-town police chase that ended in Concord, with an arrest. 

By CAROL ROBIDOUX
Union Leader Correspondent
DERRY - Police said a brazen burglar who got away with a small amount of cash from a Hampstead Road home before leading police on a multi-town chase was arrested in Concord.
John Eric Claude Williams, 32, of 52 Middle Road, Lancaster, will be charged with multiple offenses related to Friday's car chase by several police departments involved, said Derry Police Capt. Vern Thomas.The Hampstead Road resident, whose name was not released by police, said he called police to report a burglary in progress at 117 Hampstead Road, after hearing unusual noises coming from downstairs. The home owner looked out an upstairs window and saw a red 1997 Chrysler Sebring in his driveway that didn't belong.
Derry Police Sgt. Steve Phillips arrived just as the car was backing down the driveway toward Hampstead Road. Phillips stopped his cruiser at the end of the driveway in an attempt at blocking the car from leaving, and said he made eye contact with Williams as he ordered him to stop.
Williams ignored Phillips' command and drove across the front yards of two adjoining Hampstead Road properties to get around the cruiser, speeding away in the wrong lane of Hampstead Road. Williams had to swerve to avoid other arriving police cruisers as he fled.
Derry Police pursued Williams, attempting to stop him on East Derry Road. Williams continued onto Chester Road, speeding up as he passed a school bus that had stopped to pick up some elementary school students near the intersection of Chester and North Shore roads.
At that point, Derry Police called off the chase and notified surrounding police departments to be on the lookout for the car.
Williams continued driving north, through Chester and Auburn, along By-Pass 28 to Hooksett onto Route 3 into Allenstown and Pembroke to Route 106 where he crashed at the intersection with I-393 in Concord, at a State Police road block, where spike strips had been set up and the intersection secured from morning traffic, said New Hampshire State Police Major Russell Conte.
Auburn Police Chief Edward Picard said speeds ranged from 60 to 80 mph.
Derry Police will be charging Williams with burglary (class B felony), disobeying a police officer and reckless driving. He is currently being held at the New Hampshire State Prison on a Probation Violation as well as three state police warrants for burglaries unrelated to the Derry incident.
Picard said Williams allegedly drove his car directly at an Auburn police cruiser and police expect to charge him in connection with that incident.


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