David Palmore, 34, of 2 Maple Ridge Drive, Merrimack

MERRIMACK — Officers called to the Maple Ridge condos late one recent night to check on a possibly intoxicated driver who may have been involved in a crash found a heavily damaged vehicle on the side of the road, police said.

The officer got out of his cruiser to assess the damage to the vehicle when a man approached him, allegedly acting belligerently and being aggressive toward the officer, police said.

The man, who would be identified as David Palmore, 34, a resident of the condo complex, allegedly refused to comply with officers when they attempted to detain him, forcing the officers to physically take him into custody, police said.

An on-scene investigation determined that Palmore had been driving the damaged vehicle, which was “clearly involved in a collision,” police said, but the officers were unable to ascertain where the collision took place.

Once Palmore was in custody, officers allegedly observed signs of impairment “consistent with alcohol consumption,” police said.

Officers subsequently charged Palmore with driving while intoxicated, and transported him to police headquarters for booking.

He was then released on personal recognizance bail, under the condition he not commit any crimes, police said.

A person police described as a “sober adult” came to the station to bail Palmore out and give him a ride, but he allegedly refused to accept a ride from the “responsible person who bailed him out,” police said.

Officers warned Palmore that if he tried to walk home, he would be placed in protective custody and brought to Valley Street jail.

But he allegedly chose to ignore the warning, police said, prompting officers to take him into protective custody. During that process, police said, Palmore allegedly resisted the officers’ efforts.

Once in custody, he was escorted back to the booking area, where he was processed on a charge of resisting arrest and, once again, given personal recognizance bail.

Police didn’t say whether Palmore ended up accepting a ride from the sober adult, or made other transportation arrangements.

Either way, Palmore is scheduled to appear in Merrimack district court on Sept. 28 to answer to the charges.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

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