TEWKSBURY – Chief Ryan Columbus reports that the Tewksbury Police Department and law enforcement partners arrested two individuals following a police pursuit and crash Thursday.
RICHARD PELOSI, AGE 27, OF TYNGSBOROUGH, was arrested on 11 arrest warrants out of courts around the region, and was also charged with:
- Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle
- Failure to Stop for Police
- Operating with a Suspended License
- Speeding in Violation of Special Regulations
- Marked Lanes Violation
- Failure to Signal
- Fugitive from Justice
- Possession of a Class A substance
- Possession of a Class B substance (two counts)
RUTHANNE MESSENHEIMER, AGE 40, OF FREPORT, MAINE, was arrested on a warrant out of Lowell District Court and also was charged with:
- Possession of a Class A substance
- Possession of a Class B substance (two counts)
On Wednesday, April 27, at approximately 7:15 p.m., a Tewksbury Police officer on routine patrol in the area of 1785 Andover St. spotted two individuals acting suspiciously in a Toyota sedan. Upon initial investigation it was determined that the Toyota’s owner, MESSENHEIMER, was wanted on an outstanding warrant.
The officer attempted the pull the vehicle over on Andover Street. The driver, later identified as PELOSI, accelerated up the northbound on-ramp to Interstate 495, and soon reached speeds of approximately 120 mph while swerving from lane to lane.
The officer broke off pursuit out of an abundance of caution, and asked communications specialists to notify law enforcement partners to be on the lookout for the Toyota.
Less than five minutes later, Tewksbury Police were notified by Andover Police that the Toyota had crashed on Interstate 495.
PELOSI fled on foot and was apprehended a short time later by a Massachusetts State Police K-9 Unit. MESSENHEIMER remained at the scene.
A subsequent search of the crashed Toyota led to the discovery of small amounts of fentanyl, crack cocaine, and Suboxone.
MESSENHEIMER and PELOSI were scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in Lowell District Court.
These are allegations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty.
