A Fall River Fire District Chief was arrested in the early hours of Friday, January 11, after a lengthy chase beginning on I-195 and ending near the Dartmouth Mall.

Ambrose Smith, 54, was arrested for a marked lanes violation, failure to stop or yield, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, and operating under the influence of liquor.

According to the State Police arrest report, police were called about an erratic driver on I-195 East with no tires on the front wheels. A trooper attempted to get Smith to pull over using flashing lights and a siren but Smith continued driving and took exit 12 towards Faunce Corner Mall Road, at which point he failed to stop and continued through the red light.

The trooper called for backup. Smith continued down the road, despite the trooper’s use of lights and sirens and the fact that the truck’s front wheels were blown out so only the rims were left.

The trooper tried to stop Smith at the intersection of Faunce Corner Mall Rd. and Rt. 6 but Smith drove away. The trooper then tried to block Smith in when he pulled into the cemetery at the intersection of Old Westport Rd. and Chase Rd., but Smith backed up his truck, forcing the trooper to quickly back up to avoid a collision.

Smith turned around and drove back towards Rt. 6, where the trooper finally blocked him in with the help of Dartmouth Police.

Smith would not get out of the truck until the trooper removed him. The truck, which was not in park, then rolled over the trooper’s foot.

Smith was evaluated by EMS before he was arrested. The trooper observed an “extremely strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from Mr. Smith,” along with glassy and bloodshot eyes and highly slurred speech.

Smith failed a field sobriety test and refused to take a breath test, although he eventually admitted he had been at the Saint James Pub in Fall River and the King’s Inn Gentlemen’s Club in Dartmouth.

Smith, who told the trooper that he was “ruining his life,” has had his license suspended and was arraigned in the New Bedford District Court on Friday. He will next appear in court on February 1.

Fall River Fire Chief John D. Lynch said that this was an external matter, and that Smith is currently taking personal time.