Man Flees From Tewksbury Police During Drug-Induced Crisis: Police

TEWKSBURY, MA — A man was arrested after he fled from police during a drug-induced crisis. Police received a call Nov. 7 at 3:41 a.m. from a man who said he believed he had been drugged.

The caller was sitting a vehicle outside a Van Buren Road home and made the call himself.

Officers made contact with him, but he did not believe that officers were actually police officers though they were in full uniform and driving marked cruisers. Police attempted to de-escalate the situation by reassuring the caller that they were police and displaying their badges, according to police.

Dispatchers remained on the phone with the caller throughout the incident, reassuring the caller that police were there and urging him to comply with police.

The man eventually drove away, cutting through a nearby yard.

Police pursued the vehicle down Van Buren Road as the man drove through several yards. Police used their vehicles to box in his vehicle without any crashes occurring.

A police officer then used a window-breaking device to smash the driver's-side window of the man's vehicle. Officers safely removed him from the vehicle and took him into custody. No injuries were reported.

The man was arrested on charges that include operating under the influence of drugs. He was arraigned in Lowell District Court on Nov. 8.

Police commended Officer Matt O’Brien, Officer Patrick Ryan, Sgt. Joe Mendonca, and Lt. Colin Trelegan for their "calm and professional" response to the incident.

"This was an amazing job by these officers," the commendation states. "Their ability to remain calm and level-headed in this high stress, dynamic situation is commendable. Despite the stressfulness of the situation, they still remained professional and respectful with the caller. They spoke to him calmly and tried to reassure him who they were and why they were there. Even when the caller fled, they kept their calm and wits about them and managed to bring the situation to a peaceful resolution where no one got hurt."