By BOB MARTIN
Eagle Times Staff
CLAREMONT, N.H. — Gunshots were fired from a vehicle leaving the McDonald’s on Saturday night, with witnesses telling police there was an altercation between occupants of a pair of vehicles in the parking lot.
Claremont Police reported that Dylan Lyles, 22, of Charlestown, was arrested on multiple charges after he allegedly crashed the car while under the influence, but not until after he hit multiple vehicles. He was charged with two counts of reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, two counts of conduct after an accident, and aggravated DWI.
According to the Claremont Police report, at 9 p.m. on Aug. 2, officers were dispatched to McDonald’s for a report of shots fired. Officers interviewed witnesses at the scene, who told officers that an altercation happened between people in two different vehicles.
One of the vehicles, a white Volkswagen GLI allegedly driven by Lyles, left the parking lot and an occupant fired gunshots out of the window, Claremont Police reported. Police reportedly recovered shell casing at the scene.
The suspect’s car drove toward Newport on Washington Street, where it hit multiple vehicles and rolled over on Barton Whitney Road. Police reported that the vehicle’s passenger was taken to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center with possible serious injuries. Lyles was taken into custody and charged.
Lyles was released on PR bail and is set to be arraigned on Aug. 12 in Sullivan County Superior Court.
“The Claremont Police Department would like to thank the Newport Police Department and the NH State Police for the assistance provided due to the multiple jurisdictions that this incident took place in,” Claremont Police stated in the released statement about the incident. “This case remains active and under investigation.”
Claremont Police said that additional press releases may follow. Anyone with information can contact Sgt. Trevor Dickerman at 603-542-7010, or by calling the Claremont Police anonymous tip line at 603-504-0239.
