Vermont Fugitive Arrested by Fugitive Task Force After Pursuit in Rochester, NH

Concord, NH – Shortly before noon today, law enforcement officers from several member agencies of the U.S. Marshals - NH Joint Fugitive Task Force arrested Vermont fugitive Reuben Adams in Rochester, NH after leading police on a high speed chase. Adams, a 36 year old whose whereabouts have been unknown since he went into hiding after being involved in an incident resulting in numerous charges in Vermont. Back on July 12, 2013 a Vermont state arrest warrant was issued for Adams alleging the offenses of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, gross and negligent operation and felony possession of heroin. During an attempted arrest in Vermont, Adams reportedly dragged a local police officer down the roadway with his vehicle and was later involved in a second reckless high speed pursuit.

Information was developed this week by the fugitive task force indicating that Adams was residing on Bridge Street in Rochester, NH. Earlier today, Adams was observed leaving this residence in a vehicle. Task Force Officers attempted to stop this vehicle. Adams immediately fled in his vehicle nearly striking a Rochester Police Officer in the process. Law enforcement pursued Adams up Route 125, where he abandoned his vehicle in the vicinity of a convenience store parking lot and fled on foot. Officer’s followed Adams’ footprints to a nearby garage on Milton Road (Route 125), where he was located and arrested without further incident hiding in the rafters of the garage.

Adams is currently being held without bail at the Strafford County Jail on numerous new charges, as well as the original outstanding Vermont warrant. Pending the resolution of the several local charges, Adams will eventually return to Vermont to face the other very serious charges in that case.

An additional arrest was made in connection to the arrest of Adams. It was learned that N.H. Parolee John McKenna, 43 of Bridge Street, Rochester, NH was allowing a fugitive Reuben Adams to reside with him. Mckenna is on parole in connection with an earlier sentence and conviction for burglary and theft. McKenna is currently being held at the Strafford County Jail, pending a parole hearing and return to the N.H. State Prison in Concord.

Several member agencies participated in this arrest, including officers from the Rochester Police Department, Strafford County Sheriff’s Office, N.H. Department of Corrections – Probation and Parole, and the N.H. State Police.

Since the inception of the New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force in 2002, these partnerships have resulted in over 5,523 arrests (updated 09/03/2013). These arrests have ranged in seriousness from murder, assault, unregistered sex offenders, probation and parole violations and numerous other serious offenses. Nationally the United States Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 85 local fugitive task forces, 7 regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries.