ANDOVER — Police said a 25-year-old New Hampshire man tried to run down three detectives after they spotted him injecting himself with heroin.
Police Lt. James Hashem said the detectives were in the area of the general store on Lowell Street, about 1 p.m. Monday, when they saw a man, later identified as Christopher Hayes of Epping, N.H., sitting in a 1993 Oldsmobile 98.
As they approached the car they saw Hayes in the act of injecting himself with heroin and identified themselves as police officers.
Hashem said Hayes then put the car in reverse and tried to back over detectives Greg Scott, Mike Lane and Frank Fitzpatrick.
"They dove out of the way," Hashem said. Hayes then put the car in drive and aimed it at them before speeding away and pulling on to Route 133.
As he sped away he threw the heroin and drug paraphernalia onto the street where the officers recovered it, police said.
Hashem said the detectives contacted the Epping Police Department and Hayes went to the police station for an interview Monday night.
After the interview, Hayes was arrested and charged with assault to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, driving so as to endanger and possession of heroin.
He was charged with attempted murder and held overnight and arraigned yesterday in Lawrence District Court where the court set bail at $2,500 cash and ordered Hayes to undergo 20 days' observation at Bridgewater State Hospital.
