K-9 Scully and K-9 Neko Assisted in Apprehending Suspect After Two-State Chase

Pictured here is K-9 Scully (left) and K-9 Neko (right). Photo on the Massachusetts State Police Facebook page.

Three Massachusetts people led police on a wild chase in a stolen van from Massachusetts to New Hampshire late Tuesday night, and two Massachusetts State Police dogs were in on the capture of the driver.

Massachusetts State Police and Tewksbury Police notified Pelham, N.H. Police at approximately 11 Tuesday night that they were headed north on Mammoth Road towards Pelham. They requested Pelham Police set up stop-sticks on Mammoth Road in an attempt to stop the van. The attempt failed, and the van kept driving, according to Pelham, N.H. Police.

Trooper Dan Purtell and K-9 Neko joined Tewksbury Police, giving them K-9 support for when the vehicle would finally stop. The vehicle continued through several towns before entering New Hampshire, where Trooper Purtell remained as support to the local agencies, waiting for New Hampshire State Police to arrive.

The van driver, Michael Steele, 30, of Wakefield, MA, continued to flee, and turned east onto Route 111A into Windham, N.H., before heading south and back into Pelham.

Massachusett State Police and Windham Police stopped the van as it approached Pelham center. Authorities successfully deployed stop-sticks on Route 111A in the area of the American Legion. The van’s tires deflated and forced the van to stop.

Steele jumped out of the van and ran. Multiple K9 units from both states began tracking Steele.

Trooper Purtell deployed Neko on a track for the suspect, while New Hampshire State Police took custody of the two occupants in the van. Trooper Purtell tracked with Neko on one side of a river. Simultaneously, Trooper Bill McSweeney and K-9 Scully assisted Pelham NH Police with an attempted breaking and entering at a home on the opposite side of this river. K-9 Scully then tracked from this home until they observed the driver of the van fleeing.

Steele was found about 45 minutes later on Old Bridge Street behind Pelham Front End, according to Pelham Police.

Steele kicked one of the police dogs while officers were trying to place him under arrest. Steele suffered an injury to his leg as a result. He was arrested and transported to an area hospital for treatment.

Steele was charged with receiving stolen property, operating after suspension, disobeying an officer, resisting arrest. willful interference with police dogs and fugitive from justice. He was held pending his arraignment, according to Pelham, N.H. Police.

The other two people in the van, Erin Casoli, 32, of Saugus, and Michael LaCrose, 32, of Woburn, were charged with receiving stolen property. They were scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday morning.