Laconia man arrested for high speed chase back in August

LACONIA — A city man was ordered held on $250 cash-only and $5,000 personal recognizance bail after being arrested on a warrant for a high-speed chase that allegedly began in Belmont in the early morning hours of August 30.

Eric S. Bozeman, 25, of 188 Union Ave. is charged with one count of disobeying an officer, one violation for reckless operation, one speeding violation, one count of driving after revocation, and one count of resisting arrest.

According to affidavits submitted to the 4th Circuit Court, Laconia Division, a Belmont Police officer was near the Mosquito Bridge at 2:41 a.m. on the Belmont-Tilton-Sanbornton border when he noticed the car in front of him didn't have a license plate.

He said he turned on his blue lights and the car, an Oldsmobile Intrigue, pulled over near Sunset Drive but then sped up and began heading toward Laconia. Police said the car really "began picking up speed" and despite there being little to no traffic, the officer chose to stop pursuit when Bozeman allegedly reached speeds close to 90 mph.

He said when he backed-off, Bozeman slowed and the officer was able to keep the car in sight. He said he had already alerted Laconia Police that the car was headed toward them.

The officer saw the car turn right on to Addison Street in Laconia and he knew it was a dead end street. He said he kept his lights off and followed it up Addison Street.

When the vehicle stopped at the dead end, he reactivated his lights and said he saw two people leave from the passenger side and run into the woods. He said the car had been left in gear and it began to roll backward toward his cruiser. The officer moved his cruiser and the car smashed into a tree.

The officer said he could hear people running in the woods and he yelled to them that there were more police and K-9s on the way.

Responding police from Laconia, Tilton, and Sanbornton along with Gilford's K-9 searched the area and found Alyssa Phillips, 29, of 11C Jewett St. hiding under a tarp. Not far away they found Joseph Aldridge, 38, of 144 Valley St.

Both were charged with resisting arrest and released on personal recognizance bail.

Affidavits said one of the two told police someone named Eric was driving the car. Both Phillips and Aldridge separately told police that Bozeman had said, "Nah I can't go back to jail" when he saw the officer turn on his blue lights.

Both said they were begging Bozeman to stop, especially after he nearly crashed the car near the Belknap Mall. Aldridge told police he was sitting in the front passenger seat and had considered hitting Bozeman to try and make him stop.

Police impounded the car and drafted arrest warrants for Bozeman on August 31 after learning from the car's owner who she had lent it to the night before.

The Belmont prosecutor and the public defender agreed on $250 cash-only bail but Judge Jim Carroll questioned both the low amount and the length of time it took to get Bozeman into custody.

Prosecutor Dave Estes said the Belknap County Sheriff's Department had just picked him up last night. Public Defender John Bresau said Bozeman was the father of five children and was currently paying $1,000 a month in rent while he and his family were waiting for an apartment in a Laconia Housing Authority unit.

Bresau said Bozeman was working full-time at a tree service and was the sole support of his family.

"There's a lot at stake if he were to re-offend," said Bresau.

Bozeman is also facing one outstanding misdemeanor for driving after suspension from Gilmanton on July 18, 2012.