By: Laura Soukkavong
Strafford, NH – A Barnstead man has been arrested following a multi-agency investigation into a police pursuit that began earlier this month.
According to the Strafford Police Department, Shelby W. Davis, 43, was taken into custody on March 27 with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. The arrest stems from an incident that occurred on March 15 involving officers from Strafford and Barrington.
Authorities say a Barrington officer first observed a blue Chevrolet Traverse on Rollercoaster Road behaving suspiciously. After Strafford officers were notified, the vehicle reportedly attempted to evade police by turning into private roads and parking lots.
Investigators later identified Davis as the driver and determined he was operating the vehicle while under a habitual offender suspension.
Police say when an officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop on Brooks Lane, the vehicle accelerated, struck a marked Barrington police cruiser, and fled the scene. Officers from both departments pursued the vehicle into Barnstead, where it eventually crashed into bushes.
The driver then fled on foot, prompting an extensive search that lasted several hours but did not immediately result in an arrest.
Davis now faces multiple charges, including reckless conduct with a deadly weapon and operating as a habitual offender, both felonies, along with reckless operation, conduct after an accident, and disobeying an officer.
He was arraigned in Rochester District Court on March 30 and is being held at the Strafford County Jail pending a probable cause hearing scheduled for April 6.
All charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.