BY JENNIFER MCDOWELL

The number of vehicle accidents involving impaired drivers is on the rise across the state said Allenstown Police Chief Shaun Mulholland.

In an effort to combat that important public safety issue, the police departments of Allenstown, Epsom, Pembroke and Chichester have teamed up with the Merrimack County Sheriff’s Office to form a task force dedicated to organizing sobriety checkpoints.

Mulholland said the task force has already performed 12 checkpoints this year.

“All of our departments work together to put a maximum effort out there,” Mulholland said.

Judging from the activity at the checkpoint in Allenstown on Friday, Aug. 10, by the Mega X gas station on
Route 3, it appears the checkpoints are a crucial part of the fight against impaired driving.

During the checkpoint, police arrested three individuals with 65 ecstasy pills, marijuana, and other paraphernalia including weighing devices.

Zachary Patton, 18, of 28 Cross St. in Allenstown, and Devon Newbegin, 18, of 10 Garvin Hill Road in Chichester, were held on $12,000 cash bail an arraigned in Hooksett District Court on Aug. 13 on charges of possession with intent to distribute.

Mulholland said Newbegin was arrested the night before in Concord on similar charges.

Patton was also charged with breach of bail on a previous offense.

Jonathan Clark, 18, of 15 Fisher Ave. in Boscawen, was in the car with Patton and Newbegin and was released on personal recognizance that night. He is scheduled to appear in Hooksett District Court on Tuesday, Sept. 25, on a possession with intent to distribute charge.

Mulholland said the bust resulted from claims made by two girls, friends of the three suspects, who entered the checkpoint in the car directly in front of the one containing Clark, Newbegin, and Patton.

At 2:45 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11, police arrested Alyssa Ramahlo, 17, of 399 Gold St. in Manchester, for driving while intoxicated. Her passenger, Marissa Leafe of 120 1st Ave. in Manchester,  was charged with illegal possession of alcohol and underage possession of tobacco products.

“There were two cars altogether coming back from a little get together,” Mulholland said.

Upon their arrest, the girls admitted that they had been drinking and smoking marijuana that night with Clark, Newbegin, and Patton, which led to the search that revealed the drugs, paraphernalia and $700 cash  in the vehicle containing the three  male suspects.

Both Ramahlo and Leafe were released that night on personal recognizance and will answer to their charges in Hooksett District Court on Tuesday, Sept. 25.

In addition to those five arrests, police made four more that night for a total of nine arrests: four  charges of driving under the influence, three on drug charges, one unlawful possession of alcohol, and one driving after suspension, second offense, Mulholland said.

Police departments across the state have taken strides to reduce the occurrences of impaired driving.

“Checkpoints are one of the most effective ways to do that,” Mulholland said.

He added that plans for next year’s checkpoints are already underway.