Alleged Bedford Shoplifter ‘All Wet’ After Fleeing Cops

BEDFORD, NH — An alleged shoplifting incident at Kohl’s in Bedford turned into a multi-agency pursuit and a chilly, wet attempted escape for a Queen City man who reportedly navigated the mighty Merrimack River in an effort to evade cops this morning. Timothy Winslow, 22, of Belmont Street in Manchester, was arrested on Dec. 24, 2016, for resisting arrest before being handed over on other charges to Bedford Police.

Editor’s note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Manchester Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the name removal request process for NH Patch police reports.

At just before midnight last night, Manchester Police were called to the area of I-293 North on the west side of the city for a report of a shoplifting suspect that was fleeing from Bedford Police and New Hampshire State Police troopers after an alleged incident at Kohl’s in Bedford. The perp had reportedly crossed the highway and may have gone into the river. Troopers arrived first and reportedly found a fresh set of tracks on the west side of the river leading down a steep embankment and into the river, according to Sgt. Richard Brown of the Manchester Police Department.

“Most of the city units began to set up a perimeter on the east side of the river after a resident of Dunbar Street called to report a male had just come up from the riverbank on the east side and walked off towards Hurd Street,” Brown reported in a press statement. “(An officer) began a track with his partner, K-9 ‘Axel,’ which led them along the railroad tracks northerly towards the rear of Firestone.”

Another officers allegedly saw the man – later identified as Winslow – behind The Music Mill on Elm Street. He allegedly took off running but was later caught.

“Winslow was soaking wet from head to toe after swimming across the Merrimack River to evade pursuit,” Brown alleged. “He was taken into custody without further incident.”