The New Hampshire State Police arrested a Portland man early Sunday morning after he allegedly fled at high speeds while drunk driving a stolen truck, before crashing and being tracked down by a K-9 unit.
[RELATED: Lebanon Man Arrested After Police Pursuit That Spanned Across Maine and New Hampshire…]
NH State troopers received information at around 1:36 a.m. that a 911 caller had reported a vehicle driving dangerously on I-95 southbound in Portsmouth.
Shortly thereafter, Trooper Patrick Vetter then spotted the vehicle, a 2014 Ford truck, traveling in North Hampton and driving erratically.
He attempted a traffic stop, but the driver reportedly fled, and Vetter began a pursuit.
The driver reportedly took Exit 2 and continued onto Route 101 westbound in Hampton, speeding and failing to stay in his lane.
As the driver entered Brentwood, police successfully deployed road spikes to deflate the vehicle’s tires, but the driver continued to flee at high speed, proceeding towards Exit 7.
As he attempted to exit the highway, the suspect drove off the road at the bottom of the off-ramp and struck a sign.
The driver reportedly continued his attempts to escape, fleeing on foot into a nearby business’s parking lot. Trooper Nathaniel Perkins deployed K-9 Creed and was able to apprehend the fleeing suspect, later identified as Thomas O. M. Leonard, 20, of Portland.
After the arrest, troopers reported that Leonard was impaired and operating under a revoked license. An investigation also revealed that the truck he was driving had allegedly been reported stolen from Saco.
Leonard was arrested and charged with felony reckless conduct, receiving stolen property, aggravated driving under the influence, driving under the influence (second offense), disobeying an officer, resisting arrest or detention, driving after revocation, conduct after an accident, criminal mischief, unlawful transportation of alcohol by a minor, and unlawful possession of alcohol.
He was transported to the Rockingham County Jail, where he was held without bail.
The Epping, NH, Police Department and the Portland and Saco Police Departments assisted in the investigation.
