Two-State Wild Chase Through Pelham, Windham Ends in the Arrest of Three

By Linda Bock/Patch

Three Massachusetts people led police on a wild chase in a stolen van from Massachusetts to New Hampshire late Tuesday night. The van was reported stolen from Billerica, MA.

Massachusetts State Police and Tewksbury Police notified Pelham. 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 Police.

The van driver, Michael Steele, 30, of Wakefield, MA, continued to flee, and turned east onto Route 111A into Windham 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, and he was found about 45 minutes later on Old Bridge Street behind Pelham Front End, according to Pelham Police.

Steele kicked a police dog 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 Police.

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

Pelham was closed down for about 90 minutes due to the police activity. The van was impounded pending a search warrant for additional stolen property.

Photos courtesy of Pelham, N.H. Police Department: Michael LaCrosse (left )and Erin Casoni (right).