A Pepperell man was placed under arrest by Chelmsford Police after a vehicular pursuit that resulted in property damage, including to Saint Joseph's Cemetery. According to a statement from the Chelmsford Police Department, the incident unfolded on Friday evening when a 2011 Honda Accord caught a police officer's attention on Riverneck Road for sporting license plates registered to a different vehicle.
The driver, identified as John Boualaphanh, 31, chose to flee rather than pull over, which triggered a chase involving multiple police officers. The chase saw the Honda escape onto the I-495 after causing damage to a metal fence at St. Joseph’s Cemetery. According to the police, the pursuit was terminated in accordance with department policy once it posed a high level of danger. The last sighting of the suspect's vehicle was promptly communicated across the police network.
As the investigation progressed, the Chelmsford Police, with assistance from the Pepperell Police Department, traced the misused license plate to Boualaphanh's residence. There, they found the damaged vehicle and subsequently arrested Boualaphanh without further incident. He faces multiple charges, including failure to stop for police, operating a vehicle with a suspended license and no insurance, and leaving the scene of two property damage crashes.
Booking and holding procedures were handled by the Pepperell Police Department, and an arraignment was expected at Lowell District Court today. The chase that captivated the local community raises questions about policies surrounding high-speed pursuits and the balance between law enforcement effectiveness and public safety risks. Chelmsford Police noted in their statement that their decision to call off the chase was made in the interest of community safety and in accordance with department protocol.
