Nashua Man Tries To Steal Cruiser, Bites Officer, Crashes: Cops

NASHUA, NH — A local man is slated to be arraigned on numerous charges this afternoon after being arrested allegedly attempting to steal a Nashua police cruiser yesterday. Oscar Alicea, 24, of Bridge Street in Nashua, was arrested on June 23, 2019, and charged with four counts of reckless conduct, and single counts of theft of a motor vehicle, robbery, and theft of a firearm, all felonies, as well as three counts of conduct after an accident, simple assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, resisting detention, obstructing government administration, and operating without a valid license. At just before noon on Sunday, an officer made a motor vehicle stop on Marshall Street by Bowers.

While at the stop, Alicea, "an uninvolved party," according to Lt. Daniel Mederos of the criminal investigation division of the Nashua Police Department, "approached and entered the driver's seat of the (officer's) cruiser." The officer turned to Alicea and ordered him to stop, Mederos stated.

"Alicea then placed the cruiser in gear and (the officer) physically engaged Alicea within the cruiser as Alicea began to drive off with the driver’s door open," Mederos said. "While operating the cruiser and being engaged by (the officer), Alicea drove off the roadway striking a fence and the porch of a nearby residence prior to traveling a short distance (and) coming to a stop in Sullivan Park on Bowers Street at Marshall Street after striking a park bench."

Just before crashing, Alicea allegedly bit the officer and "recklessly placed several pedestrians in the area as well as (the officer) in danger," Mederos added.

The officer attempted to arrest Alicea but he reportedly continued to resist.

No one else was injured during the incident. The officer was treated and released.

Mederos noted that Alicea was not licensed and there was a mounted and locked patrol rifle in the cruiser at the time, so a stolen gun charge was added to Alicea's charges.

Alicea refused bail and was held. He was scheduled to be arraigned in Hillsborough County Superior Court-South on the charges. Alicea faces up to 70 years in jail plus fines.

Editor's note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Nashua 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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