Wild police chase ends with officer, K-9, suspect all falling through Three Ponds ice

Jeremy Hovey Leclair (Strafford County Jail photo)

MILTON - Police say a Kittery man led state and local police on a wild chase through two states and multiple towns that ended up in Milton with the suspect jumping out of his car at the end of Townhouse Road and running out on the ice where he and several officers including a K-9 fell through before being rescued Thursday night.

Milton Police Officer Andrea Reid played an integral part in the apprehension of the suspect, successfully deploying a tire deflation device near the Rochester-Milton line that partially disabled his vehicle.

The incident began around 7:50 p.m. when New Hampshire State Troopers received information from Kittery (Maine) Police regarding a 2001 Chevy 2500 pickup that had pulled alongside a Kittery Police cruiser and attempted to force it off the road.

The pickup truck then sped off after stopping briefly for the Kittery, however no pursuit was initiated.

A short time later the same vehicle was observed being operated in a reckless manner on Route 236 in Eliot where Eliot Police attempted to stop the vehicle, which again it sped off.

After a similar incident occurred in the Dover a short time later, police theorized that the driver was attempting to initiate a police pursuit by his aggressive driving.

Information was developed that identified the driver of the vehicle as Jeremy Hovey Leclair, 39, of Kittery. Troopers also received information that Hovey Leclair may have his 4-year-old son with him.

At approximately 9:30 p.m., the vehicle in question was observed by a Somersworth police officer on High Street. Simultaneously, Trooper Matthew Locke observed the vehicle and followed it onto Route 16 southbound. Locke attempted to initiate a motor vehicle stop, but Hovey Leclair reportedly moved his vehicle into the right breakdown lane, stopped briefly, and then again sped off. No pursuit was initiated, however, Locke continued to follow the vehicle from a safe distance and maintained visual contact. A short time later Hovey Leclair utilized an emergency crossover on the highway and reversed his direction onto Route 16 northbound.

Troopers continued to follow the vehicle from a considerable distance until the vehicle approached the Rochester/Milton line when a decision was made to utilize a tire deflation device in an attempt to stop the vehicle by making it inoperable. Milton Police Officer Andrea Reid deployed this device and was successful in deflating the front right tire after which Troopers and local police officers followed the vehicle at slow speeds and from a considerable distance on Route 16 northbound.

The vehicle then exited the highway at Exit 7 and merged onto Route 75 east, then onto Route 125 north.

Once on Route 125 Hovey Leclair made a right turn onto Townhouse Road in the Town of Milton and continued driving down Townhouse Road before reaching a dead end where the Northeast Town Bridge used to be.

He immediately exited his vehicle and fled on foot, running onto partially frozen Milton Three Ponds. After Hovey Leclair ignored multiple verbal commands to stop, Trooper Haden Wilber deployed his K-9 partner "Gauge" who was successful in apprehending Hovey Leclair.

But as Troopers Locke and Wilber ran toward Hovey Leclair and the State Police K-9, they ice gave and they all fell through the ice.

Trooper Eric Call and Farmington Police Sergeant Brian Gore then ran onto the ice as well and helped pull Locke, Wilber, and K-9 "Gauge" out of the icy water.

Subsequently, Trooper Brian Ross retrieved a rescue rope from his cruiser, and Troopers Ross, Locke, Call, and Sgt. Gore threw Hovey Leclair the rescue rope and pulled him out of the icy water as well.

Milton Police officer Brian Leahy had also arrived on scene and assisted all involved with taking Hovey Leclair into custody. Meanwhile, the 4-year-old child was removed from the vehicle by Officer Reid immediately after Hovey Leclair fled on foot. The child was not harmed in any way.

Troopers Locke and Wilber were treated at the scene by members of the Milton Fire Department, and were not transported to a medical facility. Hovey Leclair was transported to the Frisbee Memorial Hospital for treatment then held at the Strafford County Jail.

Hovey Leclair is being charged with 2 counts of reckless conduct, 2 counts of disobeying a police officer, 2 counts of endangering the welfare of a child, resisting arrest, willful interference with a police dog, and reckless operation. He is due to appear in the Rochester District Court today.

The New Hampshire State Police were assisted by members Milton Police Department, the Farmington Police Department, the Somersworth Police Department, the Rochester Police Department, the Kittery, ME Police Department, the Maine State Police, the New Hampshire State Police Mobile Enforcement Team, and the Milton Fire Department.

This incident remains under investigation by Trooper Matthew Locke. Anyone with information pertaining to this incident is asked to call Trooper Locke/NH State Police/Troop A at 603-223-8490.