Mass. Residents Held At Gunpoint After NH Truck Theft Attempt

PELHAM, NH — Pelham police officers responded to Plower Road on Friday for a vehicle theft in progress.

The caller advised dispatch, at just before 9:30 p.m., that his family had the vehicle blocked in and they were holding them at gunpoint.

Officers arrived and saw a black 2018 Honda Civic boxed in by residents’ vehicles in their driveway.

The residents were armed but not pointing a firearm at the suspects. The homeowner told officers the suspects tried to steal a truck and the driver nearly ran him over. Officers set a perimeter and called the female driver and male passenger out of the car. Neither suspects complied with repeated commands from police.

Pelham police identified the female driver as Carolyn Eaton, 24 of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the male as David Abichaker, 28, of Roslindale MA. Additional units from Salem police and New Hampshire State Police and responded to the scene.

Eaton and Abichaker ignored officers’ commands for hours. Eaton exited the vehicle, walked around the car, and got back in the passenger side as Abichaker jumped into the driver’s seat at one point. Officers continued to give verbal commands to the non-compliant suspects until approximately 11:10 p.m. when Abichaker exited the car. He initially complied as officers attempted to take him into custody, but then moved quickly toward a trooper when he was close to the officers. The trooper Tased Abichaker and he was arrested without further incident. Eaton then exited the vehicle and was taken into custody without incident. Abichaker was not injured by the Taser and was cleared by the Pelham Fire Department.

Pelham police said further investigation revealed the caller was driving by his father’s house when he noticed a cab light on in a parked dump truck and saw a man and woman by the truck. He called his father, the property owner, and a friend who came to help. They approached to inquire why the suspects were trespassing but they got in their Honda and attempted to leave. Eaton reversed in an attempt to flee and almost struck the property owner. The caller said they were able to block the Honda in and Eaton struck their van as she tried to break free.

Eaton was charged with Reckless Conduct with a Deadly Weapon, Criminal Trespass, Criminal Mischief, and Resisting Arrest. She was released on personal recognizance bail and will be arraigned at Hillsborough Superior Court on January 19th, 2021. Abichaker was charged with Criminal Trespassing and Resisting Arrest. He was released on personal recognizance bail and will be arraigned at Salem District Court on February 8th, 2021.