METHUEN, Mass. — A New Hampshire man police say raped women he trapped in his car by disabling the passenger door handle has been released from jail by a Massachusetts judge who ruled that police had no legal basis to stop his car and arrest him.

Kenneth Poirier of Pelham, N.H. was accused of raping women on May 23 and Oct. 10, 2010 in Methuen. Police say he altered and possibly removed the handle on the passenger’s side door, making it difficult to flee.

The second alleged rape occurred just three days after Poirier was pulled over in Methuen and arrested. The Eagle-Tribune reports that the judge ruled Thursday that all observations, evidence seized and statements made by Poirier at the stop “must be suppressed.”

Poirier had been jailed while awaiting trial.

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