Derry Fire Chief Shawn Haggart was driving an emergency vehicle with government license plates when he was arrested in Bow in October on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to police records.
Bow police stopped Haggart shortly after midnight near the intersection of Route 3A and Eastview Road.
He was behind the wheel of a grey SUV that had been swerving in and out of its lane and crossing the double-yellow center line on the road multiple times, according to police records obtained by the Monitor through a right-to-know request.
When Haggart was stopped, Bow police officer Seth Guilmette said he noted in the arrest report that the vehicle was equipped as an emergency vehicle, with a mounted computer, radio, light bars, siren controls and a firefighter sticker on the rear window.
“While speaking with Shawn, I immediately smelled the strong, distinct odor of an intoxicated alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath, ” Guilmette wrote in the report. “The odor was so overwhelming I could smell the odor from the passenger side of the vehicle.”
Haggart was driving home to Chester from a funeral in Vermont when he was pulled over around 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 18, according to the report.
He was taken into custody after being given a series of sobriety tests. He was also observed to have slurred speech.
The following morning, Charles Tinkham, dispatch supervisor for the Derry Fire Department, went to the Bow Police Department to take custody of the vehicle, which had been towed there, according to the documents.
The Monitor made multiple attempts to contact Derry’s town administrator to confirm Haggart’s employment status, but he could not be reached.
During the arrest, Guilmette observed a four-pack of rum cocktails and an empty can of the same drink on the passenger-side floor of Haggart’s vehicle.
While waiting for another officer, Guilmette also noticed an additional empty can, which he noted in the report was “cold to touch, as if had been recently consumed.” Haggart denied consuming any alcohol while driving.
Haggart denied that he was consuming alcohol while driving. His attorney has asked for access to video evidence in the case.
Haggart joined the Derry Fire Department in 2001 and rose through the ranks. He was appointed fire chief in March of last year. He began his career as an EMT in Vermont.