Wild chase that began with Rochester crash ends with K9 capture in Hooksett

State Police and Rockingham Sheriffs deputies gather before entering woods in search of a Connecticut man who led police on a high speed chase through several towns on Tuesday; inset, Michael J. Delucco . (Jeffrey Hastings photo; Delucco/NHSP)

EPPING - A wild police chase though several towns that began with a crash in Rochester ended with a Connecticut man's capture in Hooksett thanks to a State Police K9 unit.
State troopers got involved around 6:35 p.m. on Tuesday when they received a BOLO ("Be On the Lookout") from the Strafford County Sheriff's Office regarding a vehicle whose driver fled from an attempted traffic stop by the Lee Police Department.
Before running from police in Lee, the driver had also caused a crash resulting in property damage in Rochester and left the scene, according to a Dept. of Safety press release sent out Wednesday afternoon.
Minutes later, Trooper Matthew Dushame observed the vehicle from the BOLO, a black 2000 Mercedes ML320, traveling south on Route 125 in Epping. He attempted to stop the Mercedes, but the driver continued at a high rate of speed and exhibited erratic operation, eventually going onto Route 101 westbound and Interstate 93 northbound.
The pursuit ultimately ended on the campus of Southern New Hampshire University in Hooksett when the driver of the Mercedes reached a dead-end road, however, the driver then ran off into a wooded area.
Troopers established a perimeter and began searching for the suspect with the assistance of the State Police Canine Unit and State Police UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) Unit. During the ongoing search, SNHU notified campus community members of the police activity and issued a shelter-in-place alert.
Around 8 p.m., Troopers located the suspect in a wooded area next to East Side Drive in Hooksett and deployed a K9 unit, which led to the man's capture.
The suspect was finally taken into custody and identified as Michael J. Delucco, 23, of Cromwell, Conn.
Delucco was charged with felony reckless conduct and misdemeanor charges of disobeying an officer, aggravated driving under the influence of drugs, driving under the influence of drugs - second offense, operating after suspension - DUI conviction, resisting arrest or detention, and disorderly conduct. He also received a civil violation for reckless operation.

Following processing, Delucco was held in preventative detention at the Rockingham County House of Corrections pending a scheduled appearance in Brentwood District Court.
All aspects of the incident remain under investigation by Trooper Matthew Dushame. Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Trooper Dushame via email at Matthew.T.Dushame@DOS.NH.GOV.

This story will be updated.