Salem Traffic Stop Leads to Windham Crash, Two Arrests

Two men from Lawrence, Mass., were charged in connection with an attempted traffic stop in Salem that led to an accident in Windham and

Salem Police said the driver, Ronnie Ortega, 21, was charged with reckless conduct, disobeying a police officer, open container, unregistered motor vehicle and misuse of plates by Salem Police as well as conduct after an accident by Windham Police.

The passenger, Marquez Canery, 20, faces charges of simple assault, resisting arrest and unlawful possession of an alcoholic beverage.

At 10:12 p.m. Sunday, Salem Officer Mike Bolduc said he saw a gray 2003 Audi in the Walmart lot with an expired registration. When Bolduc ran a registration check, in came back as belonging to a silver Nissan Maximan.

Police said Bolduc stopped the vehicle on the northbound lane of Route 28 after it had pulled out of the Walmart lot.

There were two subjects inside the car and police said they were "acting suspicious and looking back for the officer on the driver’s side of the car."

Bolduc approached the passenger side and saw a bottle of liquor on the front passenger side floor that was about a quarter-filled. 

"At that moment the passenger opened and pushed the door into Off. Bolduc and then the car quickly took off," police said.

Bolduc got back into his cruiser and followed the suspect as it headed into Windham via Range Road and police said Windham and State Police were notified. Police said the vehicle was operating "recklessly" as it tried to elude police.

This led to a collision at the intersection of Range Road and Route 111 in Windham, according to police.

The vehicle kept going but stopped on the Interstate 93 northbound on-ramp due to damage from the collision. Police said both occupants were taken into custody and the passenger briefly struggled with police during the process. They were then transported to Salem Police headquarters for questioning.

Police said no injuries were reported in the accident.

Both suspects refused bail and were transported to Rockingham County jail pending arriagnment in the 10th Circuit Court of Salem.