NEWPORT — A Sunapee man was arrested Saturday morning after he allegedly stole an SUV in Newport, crashed into multiple utility poles in Sunapee leaving power lines in the road and the vehicle on fire, and then tried to flee the scene on foot.
Matthew Sullivan, 42, was charged with four felonies and one misdemeanor after police arrested him and transported him to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center for treatment following the incident.
According to a news release from Newport Police Chief Brent Wilmot, police received a report about 8:45 a.m. that a 2015 Dodge Journey had been stolen from the parking area of 129 Sunapee St., a multi-unit apartment house. Further calls to dispatch reported the vehicle was traveling eastbound on Route 103 in Sunapee. Officers found the vehicle on the side of the road engulfed in flames after it struck a utility pole and brought down live wires.
Police said Sullivan escaped with minor injuries and began running along the roadway, allegedly trying to get into other vehicles, according to witnesses. Newport and Sunapee police apprehended Sullivan without further injury or damage, according to reports.
Sullivan has been charged with felony counts of theft by unauthorized taking, reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, conduct after an accident and aggravated driving while intoxicated, as well as one misdemeanor of conduct resisting arrest.
He is expected to be arraigned in Sullivan County Superior Court on Monday. Anyone with further information on the incident is asked to call Newport Police Sgt. Stephen Lee at 863-3232.