BUXTON — Police in Buxton say the owner of a car about to be searched by officers intentionally drove his pickup truck into the vehicle, narrowly missing an officer photographing evidence.

In a news release, Buxton Police said Officer Keith Waltz was kneeling behind the rear bumper of a Volkswagen Jetta when the incident took place.

They said Ryan Whitehouse, 31, told Buxton Police Chief Troy Cline to leave his property and then drove his truck across the yard. 

“Whitehouse intentionally drove his vehicle into the driver’s side rear door of the Volkswagen pushing it towards Officer Waltz,” police said in the news release. “As a result, Officer Waltz had to jump back to avoid being struck by the Volkswagen. Thankfully, Officer Waltz was not injured during this incident.”

Police had gone to a home at 359 Narragansett Trail (Route 202) in Buxton at about 3:40 p.m. Friday to execute a search warrant on two vehicles located there.

In the statement, police said they said were speaking to Alanna Hurley, 28, in the driveway when Whitehouse arrived at the scene. Both Hurley and Whitehouse live at the residence and each of them owned one of the vehicles to be searched, police said.

“Whitehouse confronted Buxton Police Chief Troy Cline, who was parked on the edge of the property to monitor the search warrant service,” police said in the statement. “Whitehouse demanded Chief Cline get off his property. When Chief Cline told him they were executing a search warrant, Whitehouse drove his truck toward the driveway where the other officers were located.”

Police allege Whitehouse made a comment to the officers and then drove his red 2005 Chevy 2500 pickup toward the Volkswagen and pushed it toward Waltz.

Whitehouse was arrested and charged with reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon and attempted assault on a police officer. Both are Class C felonies.  He was remanded to the York County Jail where he posted $5,000 bail on Monday afternoon.

Waltz and Cline interviewed Hurley regarding the case that had resulted in the search warrant. She was arrested and charged with domestic violence criminal mischief, a Class D misdemeanor, and violating conditions of release, a Class E misdemeanor. 

A corrections officer said Hurley remained at York County Jail on Monday afternoon, and was being held in lieu of $500 cash bail.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.

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