By BOB MARTIN
Eagle Times Staff
CLAREMONT, N.H. — A Charlestown man was recently arrested for allegedly shooting a gun out his car window while leaving the Claremont McDonald’s parking lot, and Police Chief Brent Wilmot said that upon further investigation it does not seem like he was shooting with an intent to hit anyone.
On Aug. 3, Dylan Lyles was arrested on multiple charges after he allegedly crashed his car while under the influence. He also hit several cars on Washington Street, according to the police report. Previous to this, he had an altercation with someone in the McDonald’s parking lot that Wilmot said “stemmed from a complaint about Mr. Lyle’s driving, or vehicle, that was raised by the other person.”
“As he was leaving the parking lot, he allegedly fired several rounds out an open window,” Wilmot explained. “Based on what we’ve seen in the investigation, it doesn’t seem like he was training the weapon to actually hit anybody.”
He added, “Certainly well within the urban compact and firing a firearm into the air is obviously reckless conduct.”
Nobody was hit by the bullets that were fired. Wilmot said Lyles sped off in the direction of Newport and the conduct that followed led to charges that included two counts of conduct after an accident and an aggravated DWI.
“The other conduct related to the accident that occurred, leaving the scenes and the final crash, all occurred in the town of Newport,” Wilmot said. “We were assisted greatly by Newport because they handled that side of the event. We ultimately ended up being the one that brought the charges and they provided us their investigative work.”
The vehicle rolled over on Barton Whitney Road, and a female occupant was injured. Wilmot did not know the specifics on the injuries but was told they were serious. She was taken to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center for treatment.
Wilmot could not confirm why Lyles was arrested for an aggravated DWI, and whether he was breathalyzed after the accident.
“There are a number of ways to get an aggravated DWI,” he said. “You can get it by having a high breath alcohol concentration, or you can get in a motor vehicle crash with serious injuries.”
Wilmot said the vehicle, a white Volkswagen GLI, has been impounded after it rolled. While witnesses told police that shots were fired as he left the McDonald’s and shell casings were found, a gun was not recovered as of Wednesday evening.
“We are working to obtain warrants through the court to do an examination of the vehicle to search for evidence,” Wilmot said. “It is still under investigation. We have the vehicle in custody and warrants are pending through the court.”
As far as the person who had the altercation with Lyles in the parking lot, Wilmot said everyone has been identified and they spoke to officers at the police station about the events that took place. There were no other arrests made. The occupant of the vehicle who was hospitalized from the crash has also not been charged.
“The matter is still under investigation and at this point Mr. Lyle is the only one who has been charged,” he said.
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.
