Pembroke News : crime

Pembroke man survives beating

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:38:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

A Pembroke man suffered severe facial injuries and a fractured skull when he was allegedly jumped by several people in Manchester, one of whom allegedly beat him repeatedly in the face and head with a bat.

Larry Edward, 26, of 28 Broadway St. in Pembroke, was walking through a parking lot between Market and Middle streets, right behind City Hall in Manchester, with his girlfriend, brother and his brother’s girlfriend on Saturday, June 14, at around 8:30 p.m., when two cars pulled up quickly, according to a police affidavit.

Upon the responding officer’s arrival, Edward was “laying on the ground appearing to be unconscious, with blood all over his swollen face, and a pool of dark, red blood gathering around his head,” the affidavit said.

Edward’s girlfriend told police four white men and one black man, later identified as Joshua Ewing, 21, of Manchester, had jumped out of the vehicles and began assaulting Edward.

“She went on to say that she saw Ewing pull a bat out of his pants, and begin to hit Larry with it,” the affidavit continues. Edward’s girlfriend also told police the five men had stomped and kicked Edward’s head.

Edward’s brother, Jonathan Edward, 24, also suffered some injuries in the attack.

Larry Edward was taken to Elliot Hospital and released shortly after treatment.

A bystander had Ewing detained a little ways down the street, where police took over. Police allege Ewing had blood stains on his shirt.

The four other suspects are still at large.

“We’re still looking for the others involved,” said Manchester Police Sgt. Maureen Tessier. Ewing has been charged with two counts of first-degree assault and awaits a probable cause hearing on Monday, June 30.

He was arraigned in Manchester District Court on Monday, June 16, and denied the charges. His bail was set at $85,000 cash, and he’s being held at the Hillsborough County jail.

Ewing also has unrelated felony and misdemeanor drug charges pending in Goffstown District Court for possession of a narcotic with intent to distribute.

Pembroke has series of burglaries

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 19:53:00 GMT

BY JENNIFER McDOWELL

The Pembroke Police Department is asking for help from the community to solve a recent breakout of burglaries on the west side of town, most on side streets surrounding Daniel Webster Highway.

Chief Scott Lane said it appears the burglaries are connected, given their concentration in one general area, the similarities in stolen items and means of entry into the homes.

“We usually have something between a dozen and two dozen residential burglaries a year,” Lane said. Since Oct. 1, Pembroke residents have reported six burglaries to police.

In the most recent break-in at a home on Melissa Drive on Monday, Nov. 5, the burglars took a video game system, CDs and DVDs. In another on Berry Brook Lane on Wednesday, Oct. 31, two laptops, two cameras and a game system were taken, Lane said.

Just a short time later the same day, the Concord Police Department took a report of a burglary, which Det. Todd Flanagan of the Concord Police confirmed.

Police are currently looking into sightings of a dark green Mazda or Honda seen in the vicinity of several of the crimes, including Concord, Lane said.

Concord is a 10- to 15-minute drive up Daniel Webster Highway from the general area of the Pembroke burglaries.

Similar items were taken during burglaries earlier this month on Pembroke Hill Road and Dudley Hill. Two television sets were taken from a home on Cross Country Road, Lane said.

Other items taken from the homes include jewelry and coins. Lane estimated the total value of all the stolen items at about $15,000.

Two of the burglaries occurred on Pembroke Hill Road, one on Oct. 1 – the same day as the Dudley Hill break in–and the other on Oct. 15.

The crimes occurred between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., Lane said, which is typical for such burglaries.

Perpetrators can gain easy access into homes while the owners are at work and any children who may live in the house are at school.

“It’s an opportune time for them to commit these crimes,” Lane said.

These appear to be crimes of opportunity, said Lane, adding that the burglars are most likely drug abusers.

“Your typical daytime residential burglar is a drug addict. It’s as simple as finding an area that looks good for them,” he said. “They can be in and out of your house in less than five minutes.”

In all of the burglaries, Lane said, entry was forced. The location and method of entry, which is being kept confidential, is consistent across the board, leading police to believe the crimes are connected.

Reports of suspicious males in their late teens and early twenties in the area of the crimes have come in to police.

Lane said police are interested in a few people, but have not attained any hard evidence to detain them for questioning and cannot release further details about the case.

“It’s really important that people call us if they see something that looks out of the ordinary,” said Lane, such as suspicious vehicles or people in the area.

He pointed out that residents should particularly be on the look out for the green vehicle and also for teenagers walking around in the daytime, as they should be in school.

In many cases, Lane said, people looking to break into a house will knock on the door to make sure that no one is home. If someone answers, they will make up an excuse as to why they are there.

He asked for anyone who has experienced something like that to call the police immediately.

Pembroke residents should call the police at 485-9173 to report any suspicious activity or to provide police with information.

Two men arrested in armed robbery

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 20:42:00 GMT

Pembroke police arrested a Concord man and a Pembroke man in connection with the Aug. 7 robbery of Fred’s One Stop Mobil Station on Pembroke Street in Pembroke.

Richard Metzler, 19, of Washington Street in Concord, was arrested on Aug. 27 at his home during the execution of a search warrant for that residence held by the Pembroke Police Department. The Concord Police Tactical Team assisted in executing the warrant.

Metzler was taken into custody without incident. He is charged with armed robbery, a Class A felony.

He was held overnight in the Merrimack County Jail and arraigned on Aug. 28 in the Hooksett District Court. He entered a plea of not guilty and is being held on $50,000 cash bail.

A probable cause hearing was scheduled for Sept. 4 in the Hooksett District Court.

Pembroke police arrested Anthony Dube, 21, of Sixth Range Road in Pembroke on Aug. 31. Dube was the clerk on duty when Fred’s One Stop was held up on the Aug. 7. At the time, he reported being robbed by a lone gunman who he did not know.

He has been charged with receiving stolen property, hindering apprehension and unsworn falsification. All three are Class A misdemeanors.

He was held on $25,000 cash bail at the Merrimack County Jail and was due in the Hooksett District Court for arraignment on Sept. 4.

Early in the investigation, Pembroke police received information that Metzler was involved in the crime. They subsequently were able to connect him and Dube. The investigation is ongoing and another arrest is expected.

Student with knives

Hooksett Editor — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 15:06:00 GMT

BY NICHOLAS BROWN

A Pembroke Academy student found with two folding “buck” knives had to be subdued by pepper spray after getting confrontational with police inside the school, police said.

Police arrested Joseph Britenriker, 17, of Pembroke Road, for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest on Thursday, Jan. 18. Police and school administrators each said there was no indication that Britenriker intended to use the knives in a malicious way.

“He wasn’t threatening anyone,” said PA Headmaster Michael Reardon. Reardon, who didn’t name Britenriker, said one of the student’s teachers reported knowledge of a weapon to administrators. Reardon said police were called because “the student wasn’t responding to the demands of the staff that were there.”

The alleged incident happened around lunchtime at PA, and Police Chief Scott Lane said police asked that all other students leave the cafeteria while Britenriker was contained there.

“The cafeteria had been cleared out because it was a potentially volatile situation,” he said.

Lane said the student physically struggled with approaching police officers and had to be subdued by pepper spray. Once in police custody, Briten riker was cooperative, Lane said. Britenriker wasn’t charged with any assault or weapons-related crimes.

Reardon said the student hasn’t been back to school since the alleged incident, but said he couldn’t discuss any specific disciplinary action.

“It was a serious incident and it received a serious response from the school,” he said. Reardon said students, who were asked to bring a letter home explaining the situation, have responded well to the alleged incident.

Still, he said, “It bothers me a great deal. My primary job is the kids’ safety.”

Britenriker is out on $1,000 personal recognizance bail, and is scheduled for a Tuesday, Feb. 6, arraignment at Hooksett District Court.