Two people were arrested Wednesday night in Dover after a 36-year-old woman helped a 57-year-old man escape from a local hospital, police said.
John L. Pownall and Ashley S. Gustafson, both of Dover, were arrested after police tried to pull over a Kia sedan on Central Avenue at 8:12 p.m. The two sped away but were found after they abandoned the vehicle.
Dover officers and State Police troopers searched the area where Pownall and Gustafson ditched the car. With the help of the department’s police dog, officers found Pownall and Gustafson hiding under equipment in a nearby yard, police said.
Gustafson is accused of removing Pownall’s location-monitoring device from his ankle before the two fled the hospital.
Pownall was charged with escape, criminal trespass and resisting arrest or detention.
Gustafson was charged with disobeying an officer, reckless driving, driving after revocation or suspension, open container in a vehicle, criminal trespassing, resisting arrest or detention and receiving stolen property. She was also arrested on an existing warrant in Rockingham County.
Both were held in preventative detention pending arraignment Friday.
Anyone with additional information about the incident can call the Dover Police Department and ask for the on duty shift commander at 603-742-4646.
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