A New Hampshire teenager faced a judge Wednesday after allegedly trying to run over police officers with a stolen pickup truck in Salem, then taking them on a chase through several communities and into Massachusetts.
"He was ordered to stop the vehicle and did not stop," said Saelm Police Sgt. Mike Verrocchi, who was one of the first responding officers.
His typical Tuesday night shift took a violent turn just moments after he and three other officers arrived at the La Quinta Inn at about 10:30 p.m.
"He took off at a high rate of speed and all four of us had to jump out of the way," Verrocchi said.
They had to dive out of the way to avoid being crushed by the stolen white pickup truck in the hotel parking lot.
Behind the wheel was 19-year-old Jeremiah Remy of Atkinson, New Hampshire, seen in video captured by the Lowell Sun with a braced right arm, in handcuffs, being arrested that same night in Lowell, Massachusetts.
"It could've been really bad, we could have lost some lives, or had officers severely injured," Verrocchi said.
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He says officers went to the hotel to arrest Remy on a probation violation.
That's when Remy allegedly stole the truck, and lead police on a high speed chase through several neighborhoods and into Massachusetts.
In court Wednesday afternoon, Remy's attorney told the judge her client has suffered through both physical and emotional obstacles his entire life.
"He was born with birth defects, he only has one arm," the defense attorney said. "I think his anxiety and bipolar kicked in in that moment and he was scared."
Remy has a criminal past, but at just 19, Verrocchi says there's always hope for a different future.
"If they can make that turn around and get themselves on a straight path, then come shake my hand and apologize and say, 'I got the help I needed,' I'd be happy to do that," Verrocchi said.
Remy is being held without bail on a fugitive from justice charge out of New Hampshire following his arraignment Wednesday in Lawrence District Court. He'll eventually be extradited to Salem to face assault charges for trying to run over Verrocchi and his fellow officers.
