Routine stop leads to foot pursuit, injured officer, 2 arrests and a cruiser crash

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Police cruiser damaged as it responded to a call Oct. 24 on the West Side. Photo/Jeffrey Hastings

MANCHESTER, NH – One police officer was injured while pursuing a driver on foot who fled from a West Side motor vehicle stop on Oct. 24 – and a police cruiser is out of commission, after it was struck while heading to provide back-up for the pursuit call.

According to a police narrative, at approximately 4:45 p.m. Officer Lisa Callahan witnessed a motor vehicle infraction by a gold Honda at Schuyler and Main streets, so she attempted to stop the driver, but instead of stopping the driver made several quick turns and ultimately parked in the middle of the alley behind 280 Main Street. 

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Rosario/MPD

Officer Callahan observed the driver, later identified as Leonardo Rosario, 43, of Manchester, exit the vehicle and reach for his waistband as he faced Officer Callahan, who ordered him to stop as he quickly turned and began running from the her. Officer Callahan engaged in a brief foot pursuit before injuring her ankle while Rosario continued to run toward 246 Main St. Officer Callahan witnessed passenger Holly Crawford, 34, of Manchester, attempt to move the gold Honda, which was still parked in the middle of the alleyway. Crawford was arrested and charged with falsifying physical evidence while additional officers searched for Rosario.

The officers believed Rosario was hiding inside of 246 Main St., so they set up a perimeter. A short time later, Rosario exited the home and was taken into custody. He was charged with falsifying physical evidence, disobeying a police officer, resisting arrest/detention, operating without a valid license, false report of a stolen motor vehicle, and criminal mischief.

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Crawford/MPD

Officer Callahan was treated for a sprained ankle and is expected to be out of work for a short period of time.

A second officer, Kevin Shields, was involved in a motor vehicle crash while responding to the foot pursuit call, and was also taken to an area hospital but later released. Officer Shields’ cruiser was stuck by another vehicle on Valley Street at Willow Street while he was responding to the foot pursuit. Officer Shields activated his lights and sirens and proceeded through the intersection, but was struck by a vehicle traveling south on Willow Street.

An investigation into the accident revealed the driver of the Nissan Altima had the right-of-way while traveling through the intersection, so the officer was found at fault for the crash. The driver of the Altima, a 24-year-old female, was not injured in the crash. Officer Shields was taken to an area hospital as a precaution. He was cleared to return to work a short time later.

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A Nissan Altima was not at fault in a crash involving a police cruiser on Oct. 24. Photo/Jeffrey Hastings

Both vehicles sustained heavy damage and were towed from the scene.

Rosario and Crawford are scheduled to appear in Hillsborough County Superior Court-North on October 25, 2018.

About this Author

Carol Robidoux

PublisherManchester Ink Link

Longtime NH journalist and publisher of ManchesterInkLink.com. Loves R&B, German beer, and the Queen City!