ROCHESTER, New Hampshire (WBZ-AM) -- A man who died in a car chase and shootout Monday in New Hampshire was wanted for a police chase in June that began in Maine.
Maine State Police say Douglas Heath of Sanford, Maine, had led Sanford and State Police on a car chase from Sanford to Lebanon, Maine. There was a New Hampshire arrest warrant out for the 38-year-old on a drug charge, and there were several warrants for him in Maine--including one for trafficking narcotics and another for fleeing from police.
Police broke off that June chase out of concern for public safety.
On Monday, Heath was killed in an exchange of gunfire with police following a chase that ended when he crashed his vehicle in Rochester, New Hampshire. Rochester Police there had been notified last week by Maine authorities that Heath might have been in the area, that he was considered dangerous and possibly armed with three firearms, and that he had "no intention of going to jail."
New Hampshire Attorney General Gordon MacDonald said police spotted Heath's car and pursued him around 3 p.m. Monday. Around 15 minutes later, Heath crashed his SUV.
"Mr. Heath exited his vehicle from the passenger side, and an exchange of gunfire occurred," MacDonald said. "Mr. Heath was struck by gunfire and died at the scene."
MacDonald said a gun was recovered near Heath's body. The officers involved in the shooting were not hurt.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Bernice Corpuz (@BerniceWBZ) reports