SUV Stolen From Florida Caught In NH; Troopers Chase Suspect On Route 101, Interstate 95

PORTSMOUTH, NH — A man from Maine was arrested on Sunday on multiple charges after two chases with state troopers reportedly in a stolen SUV out of Florida.

New Hampshire State Police were notified via a BOLO (be-on-the-lookout) call concerning a stolen 2018 Nissan Murano from Florida. The SUV had a Maine registration, and the driver was reportedly heading back to the Pine Tree State. Around 7:30 p.m., a trooper, monitoring traffic, tracked a driver going more than 100 mph on the northbound side of Interstate 95. The trooper attempted to stop the driver and, while doing so, realized it was the stolen SUV from Florida, Amber Lagace, a public information officer for the New Hampshire State Police, said.

“The suspect vehicle refused to stop and increased speed, leading to a brief pursuit up Interstate 95 and onto Route 101 west,” she said. “The suspect vehicle took Exit 12, at which time troopers discontinued the pursuit due to high speed and traffic conditions.”

State police and other officers searched for the SUV but could not find it.

About 30 minutes later, the previous trooper spotted the SUV again, on I-95 north.

“(The trooper) got behind it and activated the cruiser’s emergency lights, but once again, the suspect vehicle fled,” Lagace said. “Another brief pursuit ensued up Interstate 95, concluding when the suspect vehicle left the roadway and crashed in the area of Exit 5.”

The driver, Emil Girard, 23, of Biddeford, Maine, was accused of fleeing the crash scene. State troopers and Portsmouth police set up a perimeter to contain the suspect. When K-9 Scout arrived with his trooper partner, he located Girard in a marshy area, about a quarter of a mile from the crash, she said.

Portsmouth fire and rescue teams treated Girard. Then, he was arrested on resisting arrest or detention, driving after revocation or suspension, two felony receiving stolen property, two felony reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, two disobeying an officer, and two reckless operation charges. He was scheduled to be arraigned on Monday.

Along with Portsmouth police and fire, New Hampshire Fish & Game Department and National Wrecker assisted with the case.

Details of the incident remain under investigation, Lagace said.

Anyone with any information about the incident was asked to contact Trooper Cameron Vetter at Cameron.S.Vetter@dos.nh.gov.

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