Police Chase Starts in Bristol, Ends with Car on Side

Two Providence men are in custody following a reported high-speed pursuit Wednesday night that began in Bristol and ended in Seekonk, MA, with the suspects' vehicle crashing onto its side, followed by an on-foot chase.

Just before 11 pm on Jan. 2., Bristol Police officers alerted departments in the area that they were pursuing a black Nissan Maxima. The car traveled through Warren and into Barrington, where the local officers reported losing sight of it.

Barrington Police officers located the vehicle, and Seekonk Patrol Ofc. Fred Paquin and Det. Charles Mello were positioned nearby when the car, driven by 23-year-old Dashan Hodge with 19-year-old Shaquille Cooper in a passenger seat, entered the town from Rhode Island on Warren Avenue, according to a press release from the Seekonk Police Department. The vehicle was reported stolen and the men were suspected of carrying a stolen pistol and having been involved in a house break-in earlier in the day in Providence.

"The Seekonk officers activated their emergency lights in an effort to signal the Maxima to stop," the release states. "Their signals were disregarded and the Maxima traveled through a sharp curve at approximately 60 mph (posted 25-mph zone). Seekonk officers got involved in the pursuit at that point."

The pursuit continued north on Warren Avenue toward Route 6 with the suspects' vehicle accelerating to a speed in excess of 80 mph (in a 35-mph zone), according to the release.

"The Maxima traveled across Route 6 into a parking lot in a northwesterly direction," the release states. "The Maxima continued to travel through the parking lot and onto a snow bank, causing the car to become airborne. The Maxima landed in an abutting car lot striking the roof of one car and impacting two other parked cars. The Maxima ended up on its side."

The occupants got out of the car and ran, according to the release. The Seekonk police officials captured Hodge. Cooper was caught nearby by two Rehoboth police officers.

Hodge and Cooper face tentative charges of receiving a stolen motor vehicle, resisting arrest and conspiracy to commit a felony. Hodge could also face charges of failing to stop for police and reckless operation of a motor vehicle.

The incident remains under investigation.