Staff reports 5:54 a.m.
Tuesday, November 25, 2025 5:54 am
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EPPING - A Maine man was arrested on multiple charges following a pursuit that ended in Epping with the recovery of a stolen vehicle.
The chase unfolded around 1:35 a.m. on Sunday when State Troopers received a report of a 911 call from a driver reporting a vehicle operating erratically along Interstate 95 southbound in Portsmouth.
Shortly after, a trooper observed the vehicle, a 2014 Ford Fusion, on I-95 southbound in North Hampton, being driven erratically, according to a Dept. of Safety release sent out Monday. The trooper attempted a traffic stop, but when the driver of the Ford failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated.
The driver took Exit 2 and continued onto Route 101 westbound in Hampton, speeding and driving erratically.
As the pursuit entered Brentwood, a police officer from the town successfully deployed tire deflation devices, which the Ford ran over. but continued speeding toward Exit 7.
While attempting to exit the highway, the driver failed to negotiate a turn at the bottom of the off-ramp, drove over a traffic island and struck a traffic sign, which disabled the Ford.
After the vehicle came to a stop, the driver ran into the parking lot of a nearby business where another trooper deployed his K-9 partner Creed, and successfully apprehended the suspect.
The driver was arrested and identified as Thomas O. M. Leonard, 20, of Portland, Maine, who showed signs of impairment. His license was also found to have been revoked. It was later determined that the owner of the vehicle had reported it stolen to the Saco, Maine, Police Department.
Leonard was charged with felony counts of reckless conduct and receiving stolen property and two misdemeanor counts of aggravated driving under the influence of liquor, driving under the influence of liquor - second offense, disobeying an officer, resisting arrest or detention, driving after revocation, conduct after an accident, and criminal mischief, along with violation level offenses of transportation of alcohol by a minor and unlawful possession of alcohol.
Leonard was held in preventive detention by a bail commissioner and was transported to the Rockingham County Jail, where he was held pending an appearance scheduled in Brentwood District Court.
All aspects of this incident remain under investigation. Anyone with information that may assist in the investigation is asked to contact Trooper Vetter at Patrick.R.Vetter@DOS.NH.GOV.
The chase unfolded around 1:35 a.m. on Sunday when State Troopers received a report of a 911 call from a driver reporting a vehicle operating erratically along Interstate 95 southbound in Portsmouth.
Shortly after, a trooper observed the vehicle, a 2014 Ford Fusion, on I-95 southbound in North Hampton, being driven erratically, according to a Dept. of Safety release sent out Monday. The trooper attempted a traffic stop, but when the driver of the Ford failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated.
The driver took Exit 2 and continued onto Route 101 westbound in Hampton, speeding and driving erratically.
As the pursuit entered Brentwood, a police officer from the town successfully deployed tire deflation devices, which the Ford ran over. but continued speeding toward Exit 7.
While attempting to exit the highway, the driver failed to negotiate a turn at the bottom of the off-ramp, drove over a traffic island and struck a traffic sign, which disabled the Ford.
After the vehicle came to a stop, the driver ran into the parking lot of a nearby business where another trooper deployed his K-9 partner Creed, and successfully apprehended the suspect.
The driver was arrested and identified as Thomas O. M. Leonard, 20, of Portland, Maine, who showed signs of impairment. His license was also found to have been revoked. It was later determined that the owner of the vehicle had reported it stolen to the Saco, Maine, Police Department.
Leonard was charged with felony counts of reckless conduct and receiving stolen property and two misdemeanor counts of aggravated driving under the influence of liquor, driving under the influence of liquor - second offense, disobeying an officer, resisting arrest or detention, driving after revocation, conduct after an accident, and criminal mischief, along with violation level offenses of transportation of alcohol by a minor and unlawful possession of alcohol.
Leonard was held in preventive detention by a bail commissioner and was transported to the Rockingham County Jail, where he was held pending an appearance scheduled in Brentwood District Court.
All aspects of this incident remain under investigation. Anyone with information that may assist in the investigation is asked to contact Trooper Vetter at Patrick.R.Vetter@DOS.NH.GOV.