State Police Bust Concord Man After I-93, Route 3 Chase

A Concord man was arrested this morning after allegedly speeding on I-93 in Hooksett.

Eric B. Smith, 29, of Concord, was arrested around 8 a.m. on July 7, on multiple charges.

According to police, around 8 a.m., troopers from the New Hampshire State Police Aircraft/Special Enforcement Unit were enforcing speed limits on I-93 south in the Hooksett area.

A trooper stopped a 2012 Nissan Versa for speeding and when the trooper approached the vehicle, the car allegedly sped off. Troopers pursued the vehicle to Exit 11 where the Nissan exited. 

“Troopers quickly slowed down and increased their distance from the vehicle due to high speed of the vehicle,” according to Trooper Sgt. Ron Taylor.

The aircraft later located the vehicle on Route 3 in Hooksett and continued to follow it while troopers on the ground made plans to stop the vehicle.

The Nissan later pulled into the Market Basket on Market Drive just off Route 3A and Exit 10 on I-93. The suspects in the vehicle allegedly parked in the rear parking lot and entered the store. State Police, along with police from Hooksett and Manchester, closed off the area, located Smith in the store, and arrested him.

“Surveillance video from Market Basket assisted Troopers with positively identifying Smith as the driver,” Taylor noted.

Smith was wanted on an escape/parole violation warrant out of the Oxford County Sheriff’s Department in Maine, according to the report. It was also alleged that he crashed the Nissan at the Hooksett Transfer Station on 210 West River Road, about a half a mile away, while trying to get away from police.

“Further investigation also revealed Smith ingested a large quantity of narcotics during the incident and was transported to Catholic Medical Center by Bedford EMS for safety precautions,” Taylor alleged. “Smith faces a multitude of charges and the investigation continues.”

Three other people – Brittany Fields and the couple’s two toddlers – were in the vehicle. She was released from the scene. However, Concord Police were sent to Pleasant Street earlier today to assist the troopers in locating her. According to scanner chatter, she was not at home and remains at-large.

The New Hampshire State Police is looking for information about this incident if you saw anything. Contact TFC Dan Needham at 603-223-4381, if you can help with the investigation. 

Editor’s note: The following story was derived from information supplied by the New Hampshire Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. Click this link to find out how to get a name removed from Patch arrest reports.