Published: 02/15/2007 Boxford man leads police on chase, search By Ethan Forman Staff writer
MIDDLETON - State troopers caught up with a Boxford man Tuesday in the woods off Liberty Street following a winding, two-town chase that ended after a search with dogs and a helicopter just before midnight. A Boxford police officer had attempted to stop the man for allegedly driving a pickup with a broken rear license plate light, police said. Police arrested Andrew Benas, 21, on Vera Road about two hours after he fled his vehicle on North Liberty Street, Middleton police Chief James DiGianvittorio said. The manhunt prompted state police to call out several K-9 units and a helicopter with a thermal-imaging camera. Benas, of 126 Willow Road, was alone in a white 1991 GMC pickup. He took off on foot into the woods near Monday Bridge over Boston Brook, evading units from Middleton, Boxford and Topsfield. "We finally caught up with him two hours later, and Boxford scooped him up," DiGianvittorio said. Benas was arrested and taken to the Boxford police station on Ipswich Road, where he faced a laundry list of charges, Boxford police Chief Gordon Russell said. Those charges are: operating with a suspended license, possession of a Class D substance believed to be marijuana, driving a vehicle whose number plate was not lit, driving with a plate that was unreadable, failing to stop for police, a marked lanes violation, driving to endanger, and failing to use a turn signal or stop at a stop sign. The pickup belonged to a relative of the driver and was not reported stolen, Russell said. The chase started around 10 p.m. when Benas drove south by Boxford Patrolman Joseph Borodawka on radar patrol in a marked cruiser near 45 Killam Hill Road, in the vicinity of Exit 53 just off Interstate 95, Russell said. Borodawka attempted to stop Benas after he noticed his license plate light was out. Benas fled south on I-95, then turned off at Exit 52, heading toward the center of the East Village. The pickup appeared to drive erratically, Russell said, and drove over the center line, nearly colliding with another vehicle in the vicinity of Cross Street. Benas wound up at the four-way stop at Main and Middleton streets where Borodawka saw him blow through a stop sign and turn left without signaling, nearly skidding off the road, Russell said. Benas headed south on Middleton Road and managed to elude Middleton and Topsfield units as he turned right onto Endicott Road, which becomes East Street in Middleton, Russell said.
In Middleton, Benas turned right onto Maple Street (Route 62), then turned right on Liberty Street. He drove the winding rural road with his headlights off, Russell said. After Liberty Street became North Liberty Street, Benas slammed on his brakes, got out and ran into the woods, Russell said. Borodawka lost sight of him about 100 feet into the woods. About eight state troopers responded, DiGianvittorio said. Middleton Patrolmen Adam Maccini, Brian Kelley and Richard Mendes chased the suspect, DiGianvittorio said. Boxford Lt. James Riter also responded. "It was bitter cold, so that was a hindrance for the officers," DiGianvittorio said. After Benas was arrested and taken back to Boxford, his vehicle was towed and searched. Officers found a pipe with what was believed to contain marijuana residue, Russell said. Benas was arraigned in Haverhill District Court yesterday, where he pleaded not guilty. He was ordered held without bail because of outstanding warrants, said Steve O'Connell, spokesman for the Essex County District Attorney's Office. His case was continued until early next month for a pretrial hearing.
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