A Tisbury man who allegedly fled from police at speeds estimated at 100 mph through three towns Thursday night on Edgartown–Vineyard Haven Road ultimately crashed into the woods, according to police.
On Friday, Zander Amaral was in Edgartown District Court facing charges of OUI liquor, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, speeding, failure to stop for police, and a marked lanes violation by Tisbury Police, and negligent operation of a motor vehicle, speeding, a marked lanes violation, and failure to stop for police by Edgartown Police. Amaral pleaded not guilty.
Amaral, allegedly at the wheel of a white Nissan pickup truck, drove at speeds at or around 100 mph in a 35 mph zone, according to Tisbury Police Lt. Bill Brigham. Lt. Brigham said one Tisbury officer who was driving in the opposite direction to Amaral was alarmed at the speed of the oncoming truck, and had to pull off to the side of the road for fear of meeting Amaral head-on. Another Tisbury officer, who was positioned at Rockland Trust, was unable to follow Amaral because his speed was so great that he simply vanished over a hill, Lt. Brigham said.
Police eventually found a crash site, Brigham said, following a report from a homeowner who heard a crash. Lt. Brigham said the pickup took out a utility pole in a crash that according to one officer’s description was so violent, the truck’s frame was sheared. Lt. Brigham said the defendant was lucky to have escaped serious injury. Cape and Islands Assistant District Attorney Martin Kelliher told the court Friday that the pickup truck was discovered “100 yards into the woods.”
Kelliher described Amaral as being subject to a multiple-town chase. However, Lt. Brigham said no officer that he knows of pursued Amaral. He said he was aware of social media posts that claimed officers chased Amaral at high speed despite being told to back off, however he didn’t find that accurate. He said it was his understanding that Edgartown Police initially tried to stop Amaral for speeding, but he sped up and Edgartown Police opted not to chase him. Instead officers were notified further up the road. However, he said, none that he was aware of actually gave chase.
An Edgartown Police report indicates that an officer attempted to catch up to Amaral to get a plate number, but was ultimately told to back off after alerting a sergeant to the speed of the pickup truck.
In court, defense attorney Ryan Searle said she has trouble reconciling accounts that officers backed off from chasing her client yet were able to “keep eyes on him.”
According to the Edgartown report, an officer allegedly observed the pickup speeding on Beach Road and activated its emergency lights near the Square Rigger. The pickup sped up Edgartown–Vineyard Haven Road, per the report.
“I accelerated to approximately 80 mph on the straight section of roadway between the Triangle and Shady Oak Lane, in an attempt to get the vehicle registration,” a report by Officer Will Oteri states. “As I went over the top of the hill at Shady Oak, the vehicle in question was well ahead of me and approaching speeds of greater than 100 mph.” At that point, a sergeant requested the officer in the cruiser stop the chase.
“I acknowledged his request, and turned off the siren and emergency lights,” a report states. “I continued traveling outbound on Edgartown [Road] at a safe speed, and was able to maintain visual contact with the vehicle, and kept dispatch up to date.”
Kelliher told the court other officers along the road kept in contact over radio. Kelliher also said Amaral was involved in a “bad accident” earlier in the year where he allegedly fell asleep. According to a West Tisbury Police report from April obtained by The Times, Amaral was previously charged with negligent operation of a motor vehicle, a marked lanes violation, being under 21 in the possession of liquor, and speeding, following that incident. Amaral’s vehicle at the time, also a pickup, “was completely destroyed” at the corner of State Road and Old County Road, according to a report. However, West Tisbury Police weren’t involved in Thursday’s events.
Kelliher said police found Amaral outside the truck with “bloodshot, glassy eyes,” with the alleged odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from him.
Kelliher asked his bail be revoked, or in lieu of that, that he be prevented from operating a motor vehicle. It’s unclear how much bail was posted in the April West Tisbury incident.
Searle requested bail not be revoked.
“He did suffer from some lacerations and some bruises from this accident, however thankfully he wasn’t seriously injured,’ Searle said. “There were no passengers. It was a single-vehicle accident, is my understanding. Nobody else was injured. I don’t think any property was damaged.”
Searle said Amaral had a full-time job at a hardware store. She had no objection to an order preventing him from operating a motor vehicle but asked that whatever conditions the court set, they wouldn’t involve revocation of bail.
“His right to operate has already been suspended,” Searle said.
Searle asked that the court come up with a similar suspension order, or other conditions to “reasonably ensure the safety of the community.”
“If you use your imagination, we could think of any number of conditions,” Searle said.
Judge Benjamin Barnes, who seemed skeptical, said Amaral was already under the condition not to commit new crimes.
“Just because that one didn’t work doesn’t mean there aren’t others that would assure the safety of the public,” Searle said. “He’s scared about what happened. He’s very lucky. This is his second accident, we’re not disputing that.”
Judge Barnes ruled Amaral was to be held for up to 90 days based on a bail violation. He set bail on the Tisbury charges at $200, and no bail on the Edgartown charges.
“Numerous motor vehicle charges” are also pending from Oak Bluffs, Oak Bluffs Police Chief Jonathan Searle told The Times.
Any mention at all of police being arrested for endangering the citizens by pursuing the driver at 100 mph rather than breaking off the chase, waiting for him to return home?
Didn’t you read the article? Arrest the police. You can’t be serious. We are very lucky to have police to deal with this idiot. 3 towns had to be involved to get this guy. Can’t believe no innocent people got hurt. I don’t think he deserves the right do drive for a very long time if at all.
At what speed should the police be arrested for speeding?
Twice posted?
Seriously.
James- There is no mention of the police being arrested for that offense, because it didn’t happen. Please read the article, put your hatred for the police on a shelf, and try to compose a rational comment that has something to do with reality.
thanks
Did you actually read the article?
James, just stick to putting adulterated honey in jars. Your longstanding issues with law enforcement are well known. Maybe you should read beyond a headline before making a silly post.
I don’t think any property was damaged, Searle said.
I’m pretty sure NStar wasn’t out there at 4pm on a Friday fixing poles and wires as a training exercise.
I guess automobiles are not property either.
Maybe cause it was his truck, it doesn’t count.
Did you read the article?
It seems to me that this young man needs some help. Where are his parents? Does he have extended family on the island? Surely many people came together to help out the duped migrants who were brought to MV. How about some social services for this one kid. Two incidents like this seems like a cry for help. Anyone on this besides law enforcement? I applaud their efforts not to chase him or things could have ended up much worse.
Americans don’t help Americans, it’s 2022 after all.
Perhaps in your conservative world– Liberals certainly help Americans regardless of race creed and identity.
In fact they are willing to help nearly anyone , as shown in exhibit “A” last month.
Exhibit “A”: where people were removed within 48 hours of arriving on the island?
yup– that exhibit “A”– where 50 people were provided with an overwhelming show of support, food, clothing and opportunities for children to feel like they were in a caring environment. And then they were humanely transported to a place that could accommodate families in private rooms with adequate cooking and more than 2 bathrooms for 50 people. as well as legal services .
Do you think it would be better if they were all still living in the basement of a church with no showers, inadequate kitchen facilities and 2 bathrooms ?
Come on Joe– look at reality—
By the way, every single one of these people were transported off island voluntarily. Not a single one of them was forced off the island.
And it seems some of them have returned.
The Amaral’s have very deep Island roots.
Public Servants, Politicians and First Responders, that kind of people.
Are you suggesting nepotistic immunity from any and all accountability? The island is loaded with such nonesense.
Hess makes meaningless, nonsensical comments all over this newspaper, several times a day, every day. This one takes the cake, though.
Jackie — Give Hess a break– He doesn’t really have anything of value to say, he just likes to see his name in the paper.
And then he feels he can criticize others for commenting frequently.
Remember , the first law of republican hypocrisy is to criticize others for what you are doing.
Orwell called it “doublespeak”, and it works very well with the conservative narrative.
Jackie, I have known the Island’s Amaral families for over five decades.
Do you know any?
Hess a ‘Republican
Certainly not!
He would never vote for Trump or a Trump endorsed candidate.
He did vote for McCain, Romney and Baker.
He prefers moderation over extremism.
Give him all the help he needs but don’t let him drive.
So we keep pointing fingers at law enforcement, wait until Zander Amaral kills someone , and then take action…
Wonderful.
God help us all
“He’s scared about what happened. He’s very lucky.”
The rest of us are profoundly unlucky to live near someone with no respect or decency. Disgusting. So far, he’s destroyed trucks. Only a matter of time until it’s an innocent person.
To you people that are saying things about what happened and then saying non true thing. Like were you there? For one!! A cry for help is taking it a little far don’t you think. And another thing you have no right to say anything about his family? Do you know he has lived there his whole life? No, so why are you bring his family in it. Also it makes me even more mad when people are saying they are glad he got what he got but there is a guy on MV who is doing harm to girls under 18 and still got bail. One last thing how about reading the whole thing before you put your stupid opinions out in the world. And the fact that if he was Allegedly going as fast as he was, how was the cop able to keep up with him and keep an eye on him at a safe speed without his sirens or lights on after “a Sargent requested the officer in the cruiser stop the chase”. Also another cop admitted for trying to catch up with him.
They “caught” him after he crashed. If you want to call that catching up with him.