MANCHESTER, NH – Officer Joe Tucker responded to a motor vehicle crash at 3:10 a.m. on May 23 in the area of Precious Blood Monastery. Officer Tucker observed a damaged red Toyota pick-up against the stone wall, but no one was around the vehicle.
Officer Konrad Jaworowski observed two men running from the north side of Hanover Street a short time later. The men ran into the adjacent lot of Citizens Bank, located at 835 Hanover St. He exited his cruiser and approached the two men who were now sitting in the grassy area outside of Citizens Bank. Both men were covered in mud, but one of the individuals was bleeding from his head and nose. The man with the injuries was identified as Shawn Barton, 34, no fixed address. The other individual was identified as Brian LeBlanc, 32, of Manchester.
The two men were allegedly rummaging through unlocked motor vehicles in the Old Wellington Road area of the city when they came upon a Toyota pick-up that had keys inside of the ignition. They took the 2005 Toyota pick-up and fled the area. Barton tried to exit the vehicle near Precious Blood Monastery, but LeBlanc refused to stop the truck, so Barton grabbed the wheel. Barton’s actions caused LeBlanc to lose control of the vehicle. Barton jumped out of the moving truck as LeBlanc crashed into the stone wall.
LeBlanc was not injured, however Barton sustained injuries to his head and nose and was transported to a local hospital. LeBlanc was in possession of loose change and a stolen check book when the officers spoke with him. He was arrested and charged with theft of a motor vehicle (felony), false reporting of accidents (misdemeanor), theft of lost or mislaid property (felony), conduct after an accident (felony) and operating after suspension or revocation.
Barton has not been charged at the time of this release. The owner of the vehicle was identified and notified of the incident and confirmed he did not know either Barton or LeBlanc. His vehicle was parked on Mammoth Road at the time it was taken.
LeBlanc is scheduled to appear in the 9th Circuit Court-Manchester on May 23, 2017.
