A Westport man stole a neighbor’s car, fled out of town at high speeds, slammed into a car in new Bedford and took off on foot only to be tracked down later, Westport Police report.

On November 2, at 9:40 a.m., Westport officers arrested Jamie Pearce, 44, last known address of 99 Beechwood Drive, Westport on an arrest warrant. Mr. Pearce had made previous comments that he was not returning to jail. Due to safety concerns and past comments by Mr. Pearce that he would not go back to jail, Lieutenant Thomas Plourde, Sergeant Gary Cambra, and Officers Todd Oliver and David Leite participated in the execution of the arrest warrant. Mr. Pearce was found in a back room of the house, complied with officers’ instructions and was taken into custody.

The warrant for his arrest was issued after Mr. Pearce allegedly stole a Honda CRV from a neighbor on Thursday, Oct. 31 at approximately 3:20 p.m. The victim, who had left keys inside the car saw the crime occur and alerted police immediately. She followed her stolen vehicle for a brief period and gave updates on the location to a 911 emergency dispatcher while the suspect drove along Westport roads.

On Briggs Road a Westport detective attempted to stop the stolen vehicle and said he was nearly struck as the suspect drove at the cruiser.

The vehicle continued south on Sanford Road at a slow rate of speed and the officer recognized the suspect as Mr. Pearce. The suspect then accelerated to speeds in excess of 70 m.p.h. and police discontinued the pursuit due to safety concerns.

“The suspect nearly struck a school bus and other cars as it drove through a red light onto American Legion Highway headed east,” said Westport detective Jeff Majewski. Another Westport officer spotted the vehicle as it drove in excess of 80 m.p.h. and nearly struck several additional vehicles on American Legion Highway. Det. Majewski said that Mr. Pearce tried to turn the Honda CRV onto Rte 88 north, lost control and spun out in the grass median. He regained control and continued on Route 88 north at 90-100 m.p.h. while passing numerous vehicles in the breakdown lane.

Westport Police lost sight of the vehicle but Massachusetts State Police spotted the stolen Honda traveling down the breakdown Lane of Route 195 east in the Dartmouth area passing cars in excess of 100 m.p.h. The Honda exited at Penniman Street in New Bedford and struck a parked vehicle near Hazard Court. Mr. Pearce fled on foot.

Westport Police issued an arrest warrant for Mr. Pearce for larceny of a motor vehicle, failure to stop for police, operating a vehicle to endanger, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon (motor vehicle), and operating a vehicle with a revoked driver’s license.