Mass. man dies after arrest at sobriety checkpoint

Police say a Webster man who struggled with state police at a North Andover sobriety checkpoint has died.

Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett's office announced Friday that Kenneth Howe died shortly after being taken into custody for striking a trooper and trying to flee the scene.

According to police, the 45-year-old was in a seat passenger of a car that was stopped at the sobriety checkpoint just before midnight Wednesday on Route 114. Another passenger told police that Howe had lit a marijuana cigarette before they came upon the checkpoint and was trying to extinguish it.

Howe was asked to get out of the car, but police say he jumped out the window and punched an officer before running away. He was chased and arrested after a short struggle.

Police said Howe became unresponsive at booking and was transported to Lawrence General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

State detectives are investigating the case.