Littleton man arrested after leading police on chase, crashing into cruiser

SANBORNTON - A Littleton man was arrested on Friday after leading police on a chase and crashing into a cruiser.

The bizarre incident unfolded around 10:15 a.m., when a State Trooper stopped a motor vehicle on Interstate 93 South in the area of mile marker 64 in the town of Sanbornton for driving with an expired registration and expired inspection sticker violations.

The driver of the vehicle, a 2015 Toyota Camry, refused to provide his license or registration and refused to provide his name or any other form of identification. After several failed attempts to persuade the operator to comply, two troopers tried to take the driver into custody for disobeying a police officer, but the driver physically resisted and then shifted his vehicle into drive and sped away, knocking one of the troopers down and nearly striking the other trooper with the vehicle, according to a press release sent out Saturday..

Fortunately, neither of the troopers were injured as a result of this driver's reckless conduct.

With the driver's identity still unknown, troopers pursued the vehicle on I-93 South as the vehicle attempted to flee. The vehicle exited the Interstate via Exit 20 onto Route 3 in Tilton and turned into the parking lot of the New Hampshire State Liquor store on Market Street.

Continuing to drive recklessly, the vehicle struck a State Police cruiser as it rounded a corner in the parking lot. Police say failing to stop after the collision, the vehicle continued back onto Route 3 heading toward Sanbornton.

The pursuit was ultimately terminated when the pursuing troopers could no longer maintain a visual of the vehicle due to the dangerous speeds and hazardous driving on the rural roadways, which posed a greater danger to the motoring public.

After further investigation, the identity of the driver was confirmed to be the registered owner, Christopher Meunier, 56, of Littleton.

With the assistance of the New Hampshire State Police Major Crime Unit and the Littleton Police Department, Meunier was taken into custody without further incident later in the evening. He is facing multiple charges to include Felony Reckless Conduct with a deadly weapon, Disobeying a police officer, Reckless driving, Resisting Arrest, Conduct after an accident, Driving with an expired license, and Criminal mischief as well as multiple other motor vehicle violations.

He was held at the Belknap County Jail pending arraignment in Belknap Superior Court on Tuesday.

If anyone witnessed this incident or has information, please contact Trooper Erin Frost at Erin.G.Frost@dos.nh.gov.