RUMNEY — A man who crashed his friend’s SUV and then stole and crashed a cable truck was arrested at his home after a New Hampshire State Police K-9 unit tracked him down.
On March 27, at approximately 12:38 a.m., State Police were called to the scene of a hit-and-run on Depot Street, near Coffin Lane.
Joseph P. Vaillancourt III had reportedly taken control of the steering wheel from the passenger seat of a Jeep Liberty, causing the vehicle to crash into a snowbank.
Vaillancourt fled the scene and proceeded to steal a cable truck from a nearby business, only to crash it into the Jeep, where his friend was still seated.
Trooper Vargas Vargas later spotted the stolen truck on Depot Street.
Despite activating his cruiser’s lights and siren, Vaillancourt continued driving until he stopped in the 500 block of Depot Street and fled on foot.
Trooper Davis and K-9 Draco, along with Trooper Vargas Vargas, Trooper Carlson, and Officer Cass from the Plymouth Police Department, initiated a pursuit.
During the pursuit, clothing discarded by Vaillancourt was found, leading the officers to Vaillancourt’s residence on Monroe Drive, where he was arrested without further incident.
Vaillancourt, who had five bench warrants for contempt of court and a suspended driver’s license, faces multiple charges, including reckless conduct, theft by unauthorized taking, aggravated DUI, attempting to elude police, DUI impairment, disobeying a police officer, driving after suspension, criminal mischief, and resisting arrest.
He was arraigned in 2nd Circuit Court, District Division, in Plymouth, and is currently held at the Grafton County Department of Corrections on preventative detention.
The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Trooper Vargas Vargas at 603-223-3750.
