By Guy Page
A Groton man with a long record of motor vehicle offenses was taken into police custody last Thursday after disrobing and throwing himself on top of passing motor vehicles on a Vermont-New Hampshire bridge, the Caledonian-Record reports.
New Hampshire police say Brandon Lackie, 36, was wearing nothing but his socks when he threw himself on top of cars and trucks on the bridge over the Connecticut River connecting Barnet, VT and Monroe, NH Thursday morning, October 3. He reportedly had left his vehicle and clothing on the Vermont side.
Vermont state troopers at the scene say Lackie apparently was having a psychotic incident. He was taken away by ambulance, the Record reports.
This wasn’t VSP’s first encounter with Lackie. Troopers arrested him on Sept. 7 after he allegedly committed multiple violations including being a fugitive from justice.
Authorities reported that on Sept. 2 at around 8:43 p.m., they were called to a residence in Groton for a dispute. Police say Lackie had violated a court-issued abuse prevention order, breached conditions of his release, and committed unlawful mischief by damaging a vehicle belonging to Nathaniel Ricker, 50, of Topsham.
During the September incident, Lackie was found to have an outstanding extraditable arrest warrant from New Hampshire, where he is charged with operating a motor vehicle as a habitual offender, a Class B Felony.
The Caledonian-Record story of Thursday’s incident included this account by F-250 pickup truck driver Jon Blake:
“That naked man just started charging my truck across the center lane, and he ran up to my truck and he was shouting,” he said.
Blake reacted by locking his vehicle’s doors, but instead of reaching for the door handle, the man jumped on the hood of Blake’s truck.
“His head was probably about the middle of the hood at the base of the windshield,” said Blake.
The man quickly slid off, but then jumped up on the running board of the truck and grabbed the side mirror. Blake then accelerated.
“I just put my foot onto the gas pedal, and I couldn’t tell you if he fell off or slid off or jumped off as I drove away,” Blake said.