A Hampton, New Hampshire man led NH State Police on a multi-town chase, straying into Maine, involving multiple Maine law-enforcement agencies and culminating in Kittery.
Early Sunday morning, the Hampton, NH police department attempted to pull-over Jason J. Wagg, 48, driving a 2016 Jeep, in connection with a disturbance at a local business.
He allegedly fled West on Route 101, and reportedly attempted to strike police officers and vehicles with his car during his escape.
NH State Troopers received notice around 2:20 am on Sunday that a driver refused to stop, and joined the pursuit.
Wagg continued his alleged flight after State Troopers became involved, and entered Interstate 95 heading North at high speeds.
As he crossed into Greenland, NH, officers successful deployed road spikes and deflated Wagg’s tires, though the suspect allegedly continued despite the damage to his vehicle.
He then reportedly crossed the Sarah Long Bridge from Portsmouth, NH, into Kittery, Maine, at which point Maine State Police and local officers from Kittery and York became involved.
Kittery officers took over the primary role in the pursuit until Wagg came to an abrupt stop at the town line between Kittery and York. Officers from a variety of NH and Maine agencies attempted to take Wagg into custody but he allegedly attempted to escape on foot before being quickly apprehended with the help of a K9 unit.
Wagg received a precautionary medical evaluation at a nearby hospital, and was then taken into custody by the NH State Police and transported to the Rockingham County, NH, Department of Corrections.
He faces charges of disobeying a police officer, operating after suspension, reckless conduct, and breach of bail, with more charges potentially forthcoming.
Upon his arrest, Wagg was found to be the subject of a no-bail capias from the Rockingham County Superior Court, a type of arrest warrant issued for someone who violates bail conditions or fails to appear for a scheduled court hearing.
Hampton arrest records show that Wagg was arrested in 2021 on domestic violence charges, and last July for drug possession.
In a separate case involving interstate elusion over the holiday weekend, Anthony Finnelli, 44, of the Bronx, New York also led police on a chase originating in Hampton, NH and crossing into Kittery, Maine on Friday before eventually being stopped by NH state troopers back in the state where the pursuit originated.
Finnelli, who was the subject of an outstanding New York warrant before his driving antics drew the attention of police, is scheduled for a NH court appearance on Monday.
Note to fugitives seeking to cross state lines get the fuzz of your tail: it doesn’t work.
