Shoplifting Complaint Leads to Police Chase, Several Crashes

A Nashua woman who police in Amherst were trying to stop in relation to a shoplifting complaint is facing several charges in two communities after leading police on a chase through Amherst, Merrimack and Nashua on Wednesday morning.

According to a press release from Amherst Police, they were called at 9:30 a.m. for a shoplifting complaint at Walmart, where the woman allegedly involved, Cristy Fernandez, 34, of Nashua, was fleeing the scene in a vehicle. 

Loss prevention officers gave police a description of the car and a license plate and officers attempted to pull Fernandez over as it left the Walmart parking lot. 

Instead, Fernandez led police on a chase through the three towns, crashing into numerous motor vehicles along the way, including a police cruiser, Amherst Police say.

Nashua Police Lt. Denis Linehan said Fernandez led police down Amherst Street to Thornton Road connecting with Tinker Road in Nashua. Nashua Police joined the Amherst Police in the pursuit in the area of Manchester Street at Sargeant Avenue, but discontinued the chase due speed, Linehan said. 

He said the Nashua officers "maintained a visual" of Amherst Police who reported she'd crashed the car in the area of Lock and Chandler Streets.

Amherst Police said Fernandez jumped from the moving vehicle shortly before the pursuit ended in Nashua with her vehicle colliding into another. 

Fernandez is facing charges of theft, operating while deemed a habitual offender and disobeying a police officer in Amherst. She was arrested by Amherst Police but taken to Southern New Hampshire Medical Center for treatment of injuries sustained when she jumped out of the car. 

She was released on bail to the custody of Merrimack Police where she is facing additional charges. A call to Merrimack Police regarding the charges she faces there has not yet been returned. Fernandez is due in court on the Amherst charges on Dec. 12.