‘We don’t want to die,’ kid begs as ranting dad livestreams police chase, NH cops say

A father with five children in his van lead police on a 20-mile chase spanning two states Thursday as he livestreamed the “chaotic” pursuit, New Hampshire sheriff’s officials say.

“We don’t want to die,” one of the children told Alpalus Slyman, 29, of Boston as the kids begged him to slow down on the livestream, The New Hampshire Union Leader reported.

They also told Slyman he was driving like a “mad man” as they screamed and cried during the chase, which began in Haverhill, Massachusetts, MassLive reported.

At one point, Slyman pointed his camera at the van’s speedometer, showing he was driving 110 mph, The New Hampshire Union Leader reported.

“All they’re going to do is drug me and then say I’m crazy.” Slyman said, telling his children not to trust the police, according to the publication. “Donald Trump, I need a miracle.”

Slyman also ranted about conspiracy theories, saying his neighbors are spies, coronavirus is man-made and President John F. Kennedy faked his death, MassLive reported.

Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office dispatchers were able to patch into Slyman’s livestream and convey information to deputies pursuing him, sheriff’s officials say in a release.

Deputies deployed “stop sticks” to puncture one of the van’s tires but Slyman struck another vehicle and kept going, the release says. The chase continued at a slower pace.

Deputies finally boxed in Slyman’s Honda Odyssey at 12:17 p.m., but he rammed a patrol car and then crashed into a tree, the release says.

Deputies arrested Slyman and reunited the five children, ages 13, 5, 2, 1, and 8 months old, with their mother, says the release.

Early reports said the mother was thrown from the van, but authorities later told MassLive that she jumped out when Slyman began acting erratically.

Slyman faces charges including felony reckless conduct and disobeying an officer, the release says.

This story was originally published June 14, 2020 at 8:26 AM with the headline "‘We don’t want to die,’ kid begs as ranting dad livestreams police chase, NH cops say."