Man arrested following 4-car Auburn crash, charged with driving truck at officer
AUBURN — A Houston man, initially sought for shoplifting at Home Depot, was arrested on various charges after he allegedly caused two accidents and lurched his U-Haul box truck toward an officer who was outside his cruiser, police said.
John Riggs Davis, 47, was taken into custody after his U-Haul crashed at Route 20 and South Street.
More than $700 of stolen construction materials was discovered in the crashed U-Haul, police said.
Davis was confronted by an employee of the Home Depot at 779 Washington St. (Route 20) about noon Wednesday. Davis was identified as a frequent shoplifter, according to Deputy Police Chief Scott Mills.
According to a police report of Officer Gregg Wildman, he followed Davis' U-Haul as it neared the store parking lot exit.
Wildman said he walked to the window of the box truck and demanded that Davis exit the U-Haul. Davis yelled "no." The officer got in front of the vehicle and repeated the demand, Wildman wrote in his report.
After again yelling "no," Wildman said, Davis revved the U-Haul and caused the vehicle to lurch toward Wildman in what he believed was an attempt to intimidate or strike him.
"In 20 years of law enforcement, I have never had anyone try to strike me intentionally with the front of a truck like this," Wildman said in a statement of facts in his report. "I was in fear for my safety, as the operator's actions were deliberate and intentional for no logical reason."
Wildman said Davis then forced the U-Haul to the right and struck another vehicle as he made his way down the ramp.
According to a crash report, Davis then traveled east on Route 20, approaching the South Street intersection at a high rate of speed while failing to stop at a red light. Davis collided with an Infiniti traveling north on South Street.
The driver of a Hyundai traveling west tried to avoid the crash, but the U-Haul crossed into the westbound lane and sideswiped the Hyundai. The operator of a Jeep also tried to avoid the crash and was struck head-on by the U-Haul.
Davis was apprehended at the scene and transported to UMass Memorial Medical Center - University Campus for his injuries. When he was inspecting the vehicle after the crash, Wildman said he found a bag containing a substance that appeared to be methamphetamine. Davis also said he used methamphetamine prior to entering the Home Depot, according to police.
Davis' charges include assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, drug possession, leaving the scene of property damage, receiving stolen property and negligent operation of a motor vehicle.
Davis was arraigned in Central District Court in Worcester Thursday and held in jail in lieu of posting bail of $50,000.
Davis and another driver were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Route 20 was closed westbound at Millbury Street and eastbound at South Street for about four hours Wednesday afternoon.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Man who drove U-Haul at officer arrested after four-car Auburn crash
