Manchester Police Officer Eric Joyal was directing traffic at the intersection of Hanover and Beech streets early Aug. 23 after an unrelated car accident when he was nearly hit by a distracted driver.
Police say at about 1:30 a.m. Joyal motioned to Daniel Houle, 23, of Manchester, to stop as he was traveling east on Hanover Street. However Houle, instead continued in the wrong lane.
As he continued driving, Joyal was forced to move out of the way to avoid getting struck by the Houle’s vehicle.
At that point Joyal managed to get Houle’s attention as Houle was turning the wrong way onto Beech Street. Joyal stopped Houle and spoke with him and his passenger, a 21-year-old Manchester woman, and learned both had suspended licenses.
Due to the fact neither Houle nor his passenger could legally drive the car, Joyal went back to his cruiser and began writing a motor vehicle summonses for Houle, for driving after suspension.
At that point, Houle decided to flee the scene rather than stick around for his ticket. Joyal followed him and eventually caught up with him, charging Houle additionally for disobeying a police officer.