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Mass. firefighters use thermal camera in manhunt

By Lisa Redmond
The Lowell Sun

AYER, Mass. — Adam Burnham may be blaming his dog, but now he’s the one in the doghouse.

The 31-year-old, of 15 Leighton St., Pepperell, told Ayer District Court Judge Michael Brooks yesterday, after admitting to sufficient facts of leaving the scene of an accident on March 29 on Heald Street, that he left the scene of the single-car accident to find his dog, who had fled the scene.

According to court documents, Pepperell police were called to a motor-vehicle accident shortly after midnight on March 29 and found a F250 pickup truck, with a temporary Texas plate, had left the road, hit a utility pole, struck a tree and rolled down a 6-foot embankment into an apple orchard.

After finding some blood inside the truck and fearing the driver was injured, police began to search the nearby woods using a State Police dog. When that search turned up nothing, the Fire Department used its thermal-imaging camera to try to find Burnham.

Police finally got a fix on Burnham’s cell phone, locating him in Hollis, N.H.

In court, Burnham told the judge the same thing he told police: He was trying to find his dog.

Burnham may have blamed his dog, but he’s the one in the doghouse.

The dog was safe and sound back at the scene of the accident where the police found it.

After admitting to leaving the scene, Burnham had his case continued without a finding for six months while he is on probation. If he has no further legal problems, the charge will be dismissed at the end of six months.

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