EP Police Officer Peter Cordeiro was on Pawtucket Avenue Oct. 16 at 4:33 p.m. when he spotted a silver Dodge Ram with an expired registration, tried to pull it over, and chased it at high speed instead.
Cordeiro ran the truck's NH plates, finding the expired registration for Shirley Stanley, 55, who had a suspended license. The truck failed to pull over as Cordeiro clocked it at 60 mph in a 35 mph zone, then in excess of 75 mph approaching Metacomet Country Club.
Cordeiro broke off pursuit, but shortly after, Officer Craig Sroka spotted the truck pass him and other vehicles on the left as he took the Gano Street ramp off Rte. 195. Sroka saw the truck turn onto Wade Street, a dead end.
Sroka then saw the passenger of the truck, dressed all in black, jump from the vehicle while it was still moving, jump a nearby fence and head toward a nearby construction site. The driver spun the truck's tires in reverse, then put it in park and got out, jumping a fence and running in the opposite direction of the passenger, wearing a plaid shirt and jeans. Sroka notified dispatch of the men's apparent paths and stayed with the vehicle.
Officer Andrew Snow spotted the driver, walking on Ives Street, then enter Eagle Super Market. He parked his cruiser and entered the store to speak with the man, but he exited the store as the officer entered.
When Snow caught up to the man, he was out of breath and sweating heavily. Snow told him to put his hands behind his head so he could handcuff him, but the man tried to run. Snow caught him by the shirt, tackling him and ordering him to stop resisting. Snow was only able to subdue the man and cuff him after delivering a strike to his ribs.
The driver, identified as Joseph Stanley, 29, of 115 South Spruce St., was arrested. Officers found $20 worth of crack cocaine, a crack pipe and a push rod in the truck.
Stanley was charged with resisting arrest, possession of crack cocaine, driving with an expired license, reckless driving/eluding police, driving in possession of controlled substances, laned roadway violations, overtaking on the left, speeding, and failure to obey traffic control devices.
Stanley was assigned a pre-arraignment conference for Jan. 7 in Sixth District Court.
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