Adults Charged With Assaulting Teen After Facebook Fight, Car Chase

A fight, which began on the social media website Facebook, resulted in a real-life car chase in Portsmouth last Sunday afternoon. 

Two adults, who allegedly chased a teenager with their vehicle, were arrested Wednesday morning after turning themselves in at the police station. 

Police say two boys apparently met on Facebook and made plans to fight in Island Park. One of the boys was accompanied by two adults when he arrived to fight, according to police. 

Hollie Mello, 38, of 68 Pine St., Portsmouth, and Jeremiah Benoit, 34, of Fall River, both family members of one of the boys, arrived Sunday at the Island Park playground. Benoit allegedly brought a baseball bat with him, according to police. 

Another teen, a 17-year-old boy, later arrived at the playground, along with two other juveniles, ages 15 and 16. The 17-year-old left the playground with the boys in a vehicle. He later dropped the two teens off and continued driving. 

Benoit and Mello allegedly followed the 17-year-old in their vehicle. The teen stopped his vehicle at a red light around 2 p.m. Sunday on Turnpike Avenue, where Benoit and Mello approached the teen's car on foot. 

Benoit allegedly punched the driver's side window several times until it smashed. He then allegedly reached into the vehicle and punched the 17-year-old in his head. 

Mello allegedly ripped off one of the vehicle's door handles. Both Benoit and Mello also allegedly yelled and swore at the teen. 

Both adults fled the area. They turned themselves in at the Portsmouth police station on Wednesday at 10 a.m. Benoit and Mello were each charged with simple assault, vandalism and disorderly conduct.