Portsmouth Police Chase: Driver Arrested At Gunpoint Downtown

PORTSMOUTH, NH — New Hampshire State Police said an intoxicated driver on Monday afternoon led officers on a low-speed chase through the Seacoast that ended in downtown Portsmouth, where officers arrested him at gunpoint. Andrew Goodchild, 48, of Exeter, was charged with a host of crimes — including assaulting a police dog that officials said was unleashed on him because he refused repeated commands to stop and exit his vehicle. The arrest caused chaos downtown, which was packed with crowds enjoying the Labor Day holiday. Some ran from the scene on Congress Street as they saw officers draw their guns on Goodchild, who stopped near the Bull Moose music and movie shop on one of the city's busiest downtown streets.

The chase started in North Hampton on Interstate 95 northbound at about 2:20 p.m., according to New Hampshire State Police Lieutenant John Hennessey. Goodchild passed a trooper at a "high rate of speed" and refused to stop when the trooper activated his emergency lights and sirens, Hennessey said. The chase continued onto Route 33 into Portsmouth and Goodchild stopped twice but refused commands to exit the vehicle, according to Hennessey. Goodchild stopped again on Congress Street, where he was taken into custody after a New Hampshire State Police K-9 was unleashed on him.

Goodchild was charged with aggravated DWI (subsequent offense), disobeying a police officer and assaulting a police K-9. He was held in protective custody pending an arraignment.

Photo: Andrew Goodchild, pictured on the ground in handcuffs, is taken into custody in Portsmouth on Congress Street after a police chase September 3, 2018, that started in North Hampton. (Credit: Reader-submitted)