A Derry District Court judge agreed to suspend the trial for a Goffstown man whom police said drove to the home of what he believed to be his wife’s outside love interest, armed with a gun and a 12-pack of beers.

Michael Lescatre, 44, of 16 Sarette Road in Goffstown has six months to stay out of trouble with the law. After the probationary period, he will appear in court again for a final review of his behavior.

Londonderry police arrested Lescatre on the night of Wednesday, March 12, as he made his way to the other man’s home on South Road in Londonderry with the alleged intent of harming the man.

Lescatre, a 15-year veteran of the Manchester Fire Department, allegedly called the Londonderry man, identified in a police affidavit as Wayne Macleay, 45, and threatened to “rip his head off” before making the trip to Macleay’s home.

Londonderry officers Keith Padellaro and Thomas Olsen beat Lescatre to the house and waited for him to drive by.

“Often these situations are passionate in nature and in the sense that they arise from facts that are emotional,” said Londonderry Police Capt. William Hart, adding Lescatre will get help under the probation conditions, which include avoiding run-ins with law enforcement and counseling.

The arrest record for Lescatre will remain open, but he will not have a conviction on his record unless a violation of the conditions brings about a trial, Hart said.

According to police reports, Lescatre pulled over his vehicle before the two officers even had a chance to turn the patrol car lights on, exited the vehicle and immediately tossed a gun to the ground.

The gun, according to Padellaro, had an empty chamber but a full clip. Another clip was found lying on the front passenger seat. Also on the passenger seat was a 12-pack of beer with two cans missing.

Lescatre admitted to drinking the two beers after Padellaro questioned him about it, the officer wrote in the affidavit. Padellaro said Lescatre indicted he was deeply upset about his wife cheating on him and expressed a desire to punish Macleay.

“He stated that he wanted to hurt the guy that did this, Wayne. Michael also made comments along the lines of, ‘If I would have run, would you guys have shot me?’” Padellaro said in the affidavit. “Michael was crying and stated that he wanted help.”

Lescatre was taken to Elliot Hospital for evaluation. A little over an hour after his arrest, he attempted to leave the hospital. By that time, police had gathered enough evidence to support stalking and illegal transportation of alcohol charges.

In the days following his arrest, Manchester Fire Chief James Burkush said Lescatre had never been in any trouble as far as he knew.

“He’s been an employee with us for 15 years and he has a spotless record,” said Burkush.

Burkush made a decision on whether to keep Lescatre on as a firefighter or terminate him on Monday, March 17, but would not say which way that decision went.

“There has been a decision that was made. That’s as far as I guess we should comment,” said Burkush at the time.