Somersworth man's standoff with police is his second in just over three months

Timothy Smith (Somersworth Police photo)

ROCHESTER - A Somersworth man who had a capias warrant out of Strafford County Superior Court forced a two-hour standoff with police on Tuesday after they met him on a chance encounter while looking for another suspect at a Lafayette Street address.

The scene unfolded around 11 a.m. when Rochester Police were assisting Rockingham County Sheriffs with a warrant service at a Lafayette Street address.

While there, Police met up with Timothy Smith, 30, who they knew was wanted by State Police and also had an active Capias warrant out of Strafford County Superior Court. When Smith noticed the officers, he stated he was armed, ran into another room, began barricading himself in and stated he was not coming out.

Police closed off Lafayette Street and placed the nearby St. Elizabeth Seton School and Maple Street School into a lockdown as a precaution while they tried to get Smith to comply was requests to come out.

Smith eventually walked out and was taken into custody just before 1 p.m. at which time the schools were released from lockdown and Lafayette was reopened.

The incident comes a little over three months since Smith was arrested on reckless conduct and resisting arrest charges after leading police on a high speed chase that ended at his mom's home where he was found hiding in her ceiling.

The incident unfolded on Sept. 2 around 10:15 a.m. when a New Hampshire State Police trooper noticed a black 2007 Chrysler Aspen driving recklessly through the intersection at Indian Brook Drive and Route 108 in Dover, police say.

The trooper attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver of the Aspen, later identified as Smith continued on.

Police said the vehicle reached speeds in excess of 80 mph on Route 108. On the way, police say Smith failed to yield for an ambulance transporting a patient. The trooper backed off the chase due to safety concerns.

Meanwhile, Somersworth Police, unaware the vehicle fled from State Police, attempted to stop the vehicle, which turned in to Reagan Estates and pulled behind a residence at 12 Dudley Court. Three occupants fled from the vehicle.

Police learned the same vehicle and occupants had fled from Dover Police after an attempted stop on Central Avenue in Dover.

Two passengers were quickly apprehended, police said, but it was learned that Smith was inside 12 Dudley Court, his mother's home.

It was then learned that Smith was hiding in the ceiling. After a brief standoff, Smith came out peacefully and surrendered without incident.