Nashua Woman Accused Of Stealing Pickup Truck, Reckless Driving

EPPING, NH — A county deputy noticing an erratic driver led to a stolen pickup truck allegation and a chase through numerous Seacoast towns Friday.

A Rockingham County sheriff's deputy saw a pickup truck "driving erratically" on Route 1 in Hampton and attempted to stop the vehicle, according to Sheriff Charles Massahos. After checking the license plate with dispatch, the deputy was told the truck had just been stolen from a residence in Hampton Falls.

"The vehicle refused to stop and continued onto Route 101 West," Massahos said. "The vehicle exited Route 101 at Exit 8 in Brentwood and took Route 27 West into Epping. The suspect traveled at a high rate of speed on Route 27 West."

Officers and deputies chasing the vehicle lost sight of it on Route 27 near Mast Road.

As the officers approached a construction zone, which was reduced to a single lane, with slow traffic, the stolen pickup truck was stopped and an Epping police officer, on a detail, was able to apprehend the driver.

Amanda H. Hartness, 32, of Nashua, was taken into custody, transferred to sheriff's deputies, and taken to the Rockingham County Jail. She was charged with receiving stolen property and reckless conduct, both felonies, as well as criminal mischief, disobeying an officer, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, all misdemeanors. Hartness was held without without bail and on a 72-hour probation hold. She is expected to be arraigned next week.

Massahos thanked New Hampshire State Police troopers from Troop A, Epping and Brentwood police, and the Brentwood Fire Department for their assistance with the case.

Hartness is no stranger to police, according to reports online. Between 2011 and 2018, she has been charged with fentanyl possession a couple of times, motor vehicle theft, theft, disorderly conduct a couple of times, and warrants in Nashua, Amherst, Derry, and Lowell, Massachusetts.

Editor's note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Rockingham County Sheriff's Department and does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the removal request process for New Hampshire Patch police reports.

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