Wanted Man Leads Police on Car Chase Through New Bedford

A Dartmouth man wanted in two states leads police on a car chase through New Bedford Tuesday.

Late Tuesday morning, Officer Kurtis Gonsalves spotted a man driving near School and South Second Streets he recognized as having several outstanding warrants in New Bedford and New Hampshire.

As the officer began walking to the vehicle he had just pulled over, the car took off, hitting another car as it fled. The accident caused minor damage to the victim's car. The 19-year-old female operator of the vehicle was treated and released from St. Luke's Hospital for head pain. The chase ended in the South End, where the operator bailed out of the car, and hid in a yard on Crapo Street where he was found and arrested by police.

The suspect, identified as 37-year-old Robert Adao of Dartmouth, was arrested on outstanding warrants in New Bedford for shoplifting and possession with intent to distribute heroin. Adao is also charged with being a fugitive from justice from New Hampshire, where he's wanted for parole violations stemming from a robbery in Nashua involving a pistol whipping of the victim.

In connection with Tuesday's chase, Adao is further charged with failure to stop for police, leaving the scene of an accident after causing personal injury, and operating to endanger.