Bedford Man Led Police On Multi-Community Chase: Cops

MANCHESTER, NH — Two men were arrested on Monday after police said one driving a truck attempted to flee from Manchester police, leading to a multi-community, multi-agency chase and a standoff in Bedford. George Riley, 39, pictured left, of Oak Drive in Bedford, was arrested and charged with certified as a habitual offender, reckless conduct, and disobeying a police officer. Also arrested was Matthew Brault, 39, of Manchester, on a possession of a controlled drug charge.

At around 4:45 p.m. on Monday, a Queen City police officer attempted to pull over a pickup truck after reportedly observing "suspicious activity" and multiple motor vehicle violations.

"Police activated their emergency lights and siren but the truck didn’t immediately stop," according to Heather Hamel, the public information officer for the Manchester Police Department. "When it did stop at a red light at Auburn and Elm streets, a police officer got out of her car and started to approach the truck, but the driver ended up taking off."

The pickup truck stopped again, let the passenger out, and continued to flee the scene. While officers questioned Brault, other units were sent to chase the truck, allegedly being driven by Riley.

"(Riley) was driving erratically, crossing the double yellow lines into oncoming traffic, going over curbs, and onto embankments," Hamel stated. "Several officers tried to pull him over, but he merged on 293."

Brault was taken into custody on the drug charge while other officers tracked the pickup truck.

Police continued to chase Riley along the Everett Turnpike into Nashua, with state police troopers attempting to lay spike strips to stop the vehicle. Riley allegedly got off the turnpike, changed directions, and drove north on the Daniel Webster Highway (Route 3). Police at the town line between Merrimack and Bedford attempted to lay spike strips to stop the vehicle but failed here, too.

Not far from his home, Riley stopped driving and a standoff occurred with a SWAT unit being called in to assist. He eventually surrendered to Bedford police.

Both Riley and Brault are due in Hillsborough County Superior Court-North on June 25.

According to reports on Patch, both Brault and Riley are no strangers to police. Brault was arrested by New Hampshire State Police in November 2014, for allegedly driving 82 mph on I-93 in Bow. It was his seventh time being stopped for driving with a suspended license, due to defaulting on child support payments, according to state police. In 2013, he was arrested in Bedford on a driving charge and also in Londonderry for being a habitual offender, driving after revocation or suspension, and failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk charges.

Riley has been arrested on numerous warrants during the past eight years. He was arrested on June 24, 2016, in Bedford, three years to the day of this incident, on reckless operation, disobeying an officer, habitual offender, driving without giving proof, and stopping/standing/parking prohibited charges.

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 removal request process for New Hampshire Patch police reports.

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