MANCHESTER, NH — A man allegedly driving a car he wasn’t supposed to be driving while under the influence of drugs was arrested early Tuesday after fleeing from police and crashing the car into some mulch beds behind a drug store.
At about 12:40 a.m. on July 10 Manchester police officers on patrol observed a man, later identified as Jason Smith, 35, no fixed address, as he parked a 2004 Buick LeSabre next to the gas pumps at 7-Eleven, 557 Maple St.
Smith immediately exited the vehicle and began acting erratically while flailing his arms and walking in circles. He never attempted to pump gas into the vehicle and walked away from the car as he disappeared down Arlington Street.
He reappeared approximately 10 minutes later as a passenger in another vehicle, which dropped him off at the Buick. Smith got into the driver’s seat of the car and turned on to Maple Street without using a proper turn signal, so the officers activated emergency lights and a siren in an attempt to stop him. Smith rapidly accelerated while weaving in and out of the two lanes of traffic, so officers deactivated the emergency lights and siren south of Blodgett Street and watched as Smith continued north on Maple Street.
Smith crashed the Buick behind 53 Hooksett Road, causing damage to the mulch beds located behind Rite-Aid. He then fled on foot prior to officers’ arrival, however additional officers located him behind 921 Beech St. a short time later.
Officer O’Connor ordered Smith to the ground, but he refused several times and was eventually transitioned to the ground where he was placed into custody.
Officers spoke with the registered owner of the vehicle once Smith was placed into custody. The owner claimed to know Smith, but denied granting him permission to use his vehicle. Smith also appeared to be under the influence of drugs at the time of his arrest, so he was taken to an area hospital as a precautionary measure.
Smith was charged with reckless conduct, disobeying a police officer, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, driving after suspension/revocation, resisting arrest/detention, criminal mischief, driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol and conduct after an accident. He was scheduled to appear in Hillsborough County Superior Court-North on July 10, 2018.
