Salem Observer : Police

Salem deputy chief assaulted

Salem Editor — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:50:00 GMT

A disorderly patron allegedly struck a deputy police chief inside the Poker Room at the Rockingham Park racetrack after management asked him to leave at about 10:15 p.m. on Sept. 23.

According to police, 30- year-old Christopher McNeil of Danvers, Mass., refused to comply with racetrack management, and when Deputy Police Chief William Ganley, on detail in the Poker Room that night, stepped in, McNeil began punching him in the face.

Police said Ganley used his Taser to subdue McNeil and take him into custody. Left uninjured from the assault, authorities said Ganley was able to finish out the rest of his detail without medical attention.

According to Capt. Shawn Patten, the racetrack regularly pays for a police detail, which keeps problems at a minimum. While officers report the occasional trouble at the racetrack, Patten said incidents like McNeil’s assault on Ganley were the exception, not the rule.

McNeil has been charged with simple assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and criminal threatening. He was released on $500 cash bail pending arraignment at Salem District Court.

Man arrested after trying to cash in stolen lottery tickets

Salem Editor — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:16:00 GMT

Luck ran out for a Derry man who now may face charges in two communities after allegedly stealing 500 lottery scratch tickets and attempting to cash the winning tickets at area convenience stores.

Authorities charged 20- year-old Ryan Ambrose with receiving stolen property after undercover detectives arrested him based in part on surveillance tapes and witness descriptions on Sept. 15.

According to police, the New Hampshire Lottery Commission alerted authorities that some of the scratch tickets were cashed a Tedeschi’s store and others attempted at Dusty’s Citgo, both located in Salem, after flagging tickets following an overnight burglary at the Bagel Shop in Derry.

After reviewing tapes and interviewing employees at both stores, detectives located the suspect’s vehicle in a nearby parking lot at 33 Northwestern Drive. Ambrose was taken into custody without incident on his way out of work and his vehicle was seized, according to authorities. Officers reported that the side door of the vehicle was visibly stuffed with scratch tickets.

Ambrose was released on a $1,000 personal recognizance bail pending his arraignment at Salem District Court. More charges are pending against Ambrose in Derry, according to authorities.

– Derrick Perkins

Knife-wielding teen faces sex assault charges

Salem Editor — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:47:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

A local teenager arrested after allegedly threatening a woman with knives behind a supermarket is due in court on new charges stemming from an “inappropriate relationship” with a 14-yearold female, according to authorities.

According to police, 17-year-old Zachary Gray of Salem was found hiding in the woods with the unidentified minor on Saturday, Sept. 5, after a female victim told authorities that she had been approached by an individual brandishing a knife while walking behind the Market Bastket supermarket that morning. Authorities tracked Gray down using a K-9 unit and allegedly found him hiding with the 14-year-old and in possession of the two knives matching the victim’s description.

At the time, authorities released Gray on a $25,000 bail after charging him with two counts of criminal threatening as they continued to investigate his relationship with the 14-year-old female. On Sept. 11, detectives took Gray into custody on aggravated felonious sexual assault charges.

According to authorities, this is the second time Gray has faced charges in connection to his relationship with the minor. He pleaded guilty to simple assault last week, authorities said.

Gray is expected in Salem District Court for a probable cause hearing on Sept. 16 at 10 a.m.

Motorcyclist might be charged after hitting car carrying pregnant woman and baby

Salem Editor — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:44:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

With her infant in the back seat, Sheenah Deyo was on her way home on Sept. 14 when she was struck by a Derry man on motorcycle going close to 100 miles per hour.

“I turned onto my street to pull over, and I saw the blue lights following him and my baby started screaming and I was screaming. I didn’t really see anything. He hit my car and it seemed like he kept going,” she said. “He hit the back and flew off. He must have not have been looking because he didn’t stop and he didn’t even slow down. I just didn’t even want to look at the motorcycle (afterward).”

According to authorities, 19-year-old Timothy Everett of Derry lost control of his motorcycle near 69 N. Policy St. after officers spotted him traveling down nearby Pelham Road at a high rate of speed at about 4:40 p.m. Authorities said Everett noticed an officer on a motorcycle turning around to follow him when he allegedly accelerated to elude police. By the time officers caught up with him, Everett had clipped the rear-end of Deyo’s vehicle as she turned onto Brookdale Road, struck a nearby curb and crashed, receiving life-threatening injuries in the process.

Eight months pregnant, Deyo said she was having contractions when authorities had her transported to the Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, Mass., where doctors made sure her unborn child had not been injured in the collision.

“They just checked me up. They didn’t have room for me, they just told me to see my OB/ GYN. Because I’m pregnant they couldn’t X-ray me and couldn’t give me anything for the pain. The only thing they could do is make sure the baby is OK. My two main concerns were my 1-year-old in the back seat and the baby, obviously,” she said.

Still, Deyo said she was unable to sleep at night due to the pain and has been left shaken up by the accident.

“I feel like a baseball bat hit me across the head. I hope (Everett) is OK,” she said.

Everett was later transported by helicopter to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston where he is listed as in good condition, according to authorities.

Officers at the scene said Everett suffered a laceration to his arm and lost some blood. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the collision, police said. Witnesses told authorities that Everett had been traveling at excessive speeds and driving on the wrong side of the road before he lost control of his motorcycle. Though the investigation remains ongoing, charges may be pending, police said.

At this time, authorities are not considering the incident a police chase.

Man out on bail for robbery and linked to 2007 murder nabbed trying to sell candy as drugs

Salem Editor — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:40:00 GMT

BY TRENT SPINER and DERRICK PERKINS
Correspondents

Out on bail in connection with a 2007 murder, an armed Londonderry man was arrested while attempting to sell drugs to undercover detectives in the parking lot of the Mall at Rockingham Park.

Police swooped in on Leo Cullinan, 21, Wednesday, Sept. 9, when they learned he might try to rob officers using a handgun tucked into his waistband.

Salem detectives, with the help of federal Drug Enforcement Agency agents, set up a sting operation to bust him for allegedly selling Oxycodone, according to police Capt. Shawn Patten.

At the time of his arrest, Cullinan was attempting to pass off a bag of green M&Ms as the heavily abused prescription painkiller, police said. Officers took him into custody without incident at about 2:05 p.m. Patten said he had been under investigation for some time.

Cullinan was out on bail for allegedly stealing the handgun used to murder Derry handyman Jason Viollete in 2007.

Viollete, 29, was found dead, shot once in the chest, on the floor of his parents’ kitchen after a drug deal gone wrong.

Two days before Viollete’s murder, prosecutors said Cullinan was part of a troop of then-teenagers who forced their way into another Derry home while masked with bandanas.

Cullinan and Jordan Webster, 20, held up Steven Hines of Derry at gunpoint inside Hines’ home. Cullinan stole a 9 mm handgun from Hines, though it was different from the one Salem police recovered on Wednesday, they said.

While Cullinan was not present during Violette’s murder, prosecutors from the state Attorney General’s office said they learned of the strikingly similar Hines robbery through their homicide investigation.

He was indicted in April on two felony charges of armed robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery, both punishable by 7-1/2 to 15 years in state prison, court records show.

Cullinan arrived without incident at an arraignment and bail hearing at Rockingham County Superior Court shortly afterward. It was there prosecutors asked a judge to set bail at $5,000 cash only, which Cullinan posted to be released.

Court records show his bail conditions specifically prohibited him from possessing a firearm, using or possessing drugs and committing any new crimes.

Now, prosecutors could ask a judge to have his bail revoked for the earlier charges.

“We’re just trying to collect information at this point,” said Assistant Rockingham County Attorney Marcia Rosenn.

“We’ll proceed accordingly.” Salem police held Cullinan in lieu of an additional $50,000 cash bail. He faces felony charges of possession and transportation of a controlled drug.

While authorities knew Cullinan was out on bail, Patten said the department was unaware of the charges he was facing.

An attorney for Cullinan could not be reached.

Police seek vacuum salesman wanted on multiple warrants

Salem Editor — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:02:00 GMT

Police are searching for a door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesman with a lengthy criminal record after he allegedly gave authorities a false name before fleeing on foot on Wednesday, Aug. 26.

According to police, Joseph Roderick, 22, with a last known address in Raymond, is wanted in two states with at least 16 outstanding arrest warrants, including what authorities are describing as “dangerous felonies.”

Authorities said Roderick was one of several salesmen for the Kirby Company police stopped and checked for hawkers and peddlers licenses after receiving a report of door-to-door solicitors in area of Townsend Avenue. Roderick – who identified himself to police as Joseph Richardson – fled as officers ran records checks on the salesmen. Three others were taken into custody for soliciting without a license, police said.

According to police, Roderick ran for about a half of a mile where he knocked on the door of a residence and was able to make a phone call.

Police believe he arranged for a ride and left the area. Though officers deployed a K-9 Unit, Roderick’s trail was lost during the search, authorities said.

If caught, Roderick will be facing resisting arrest and false reports to law enforcement officials charges in Salem.

Roderick is also wanted for multiple charges including simple assault in Raymond and disobeying a police officer in Candia District Court.

Included among the charges Roderick is facing in Massachusetts are threatening to damage property, commit murder and rape and possession of a class C substance.

Authorities described Kirby Company representatives as “extremely unhelpful” during the investigation and said they have refused to provide any information that might help police locate Roderick. Police are asking anyone with information regarding his whereabouts to contact the Salem Police Department at 893-1911 or the Southern New Hampshire Crimeline at 893-6600.

– Derrick Perkins

Salem police seek diamond ring thief

Salem Editor — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:12:00 GMT

Police are on the lookout for a man described as being of medium height, medium build and dark-skinned after he allegedly ran off from a jewelry store with a $13,000 diamond ring around 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 22.

According to authorities, the suspect had visited JB Robinson Jewelers inside the Mall at Rockingham Park and spoken to employees once before without incident. He returned, asked to see the piece of jewelry – a princess-cut 1.5-carat white gold ring – and fled as soon as an employee handed him the valuable, police said.

According to police, the suspect jumped into a white four-door sedan believed to be an older model Toyota Camry missing the hubcap from the front passenger-side tire. He is described as wearing blue jeans, a tan sweater and a tan knit cap.

Authorities do not have good surveillance video of the suspect and are asking anyone with information about the theft to contact the Salem Police Department at 893-1911 or the Southern New Hampshire Crimeline at 893-6600.

Man arrested after threatening with bomb

Salem Editor — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:41:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

Authorities recovered a homemade explosive and an assortment of weapons from a local man after he threatened to kill his girlfriend, her family and her ex-boyfriend.

According to officials, the female victim reported the alleged incident to authorities at about 5:30 p.m. on July 22, telling officers at police headquarters that her boyfriend, James Flanagan, 51, of Salem grabbed and pushed her before making the threats earlier in the day. The victim also reported that Flanagan had “numerous weapons” inside his house and claimed that Flanagan had told her that he would not go back to prison and would not be “taken alive” if she called the police, according to authorities.

After a Salem detective completed an emergency restraining order and arrest warrant for the victim, authorities had her call Flanagan and tell him that his vehicle was parked at a nearby bar. Officers waited until after Flanagan had left his residence on foot to take him into custody.

Police said they discovered the homemade explosive in Flanagan’s home while they were seizing his weapons, which include a .45 caliber Luger pistol, a Samurai sword, an axe and an assortment of knives. According to Capt. Shawn Patten, Flanagan claimed that the explosive – a jar full of flammable material classified as an incendiary device by the New Hampshire State Police Bomb Squad – could take down a house.

Among the weapons seized was a pair of blast knuckles, black plastic knuckles resembling brass knuckles customized to incorporate a Taser, according to officials. Patten said it was the first time his department had ever seen the weapon.

“He was definitely a dangerous person to be making those threats and to have those type of weapons and modified weapons for which the only purpose is to hurt people,” Patten said. “The officers recognizing the seriousness and dangerousness of the situation did a great job with the ruse and getting him out of the house.”

Flanagan has been charged as a felon in possession of a firearm and of dangerous weapons as well as domestic assault and criminal threatening. He was held on a $20,000 cash bail and was expected to be in court for a probable cause hearing on July 29.

Mass. woman killed in I-93 motorcycle crash

Salem Editor — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:44:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

A motorcycle rollover on the southbound side of I-93 on Monday, June 22, killed a passenger and left the driver hospitalized with serious injuries.

Police said Cathyann Pandolfo, 49, of Uxbridge, Mass., sustained fatal injuries after the 1996 Honda Goldwing motorcycle she was traveling on rolled over and ejected both riders near the Windham weigh station at 10:11 a.m. Pandolfo was pronounced dead on the scene, according to authorities.

The driver, Derek J. Pandolfo, 48, of Uxbridge, Mass., was transported to Parkland Medical Center in Derry with serious injuries by Windham Fire and Rescue before being transferred to the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, according to authorities.

A spokesman at Beth Israel said Pandolfo remained in critical condition as of Monday night.

Public safety officials believe the Pandolfos were husband and wife.

Witnesses told police the motorcycle drifted off to the left side of the highway and onto the gravel portion of the shoulder before rolling over. The accident left traffic backed up from Exit 3 on above for about 7 miles.

State troopers on the scene were directing vehicles through the weigh station and around the crash site in a single lane.

State police received assistance at the scene by the New Hampshire Department of Transportation as well as the Windham Fire Department and EMS.

Though the crash remains under investigation, alcohol and drugs are not believed to been a factor in the rollover, authorities said.

Officials are urging anyone with information regarding the accident to contact Trooper Derek Holston at 672- 3333.

$10 tab leads to violence in Salem

Salem Editor — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:12:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

An early morning argument over a $10 bar tab allegedly sparked a fight that left one man hospitalized and three lawn statues uprooted on June 6.

Andrew Monzon, 23, of Andover, Mass., has been charged with reckless conduct, criminal mischief, driving while intoxicated and two counts of first-degree assault after allegedly using his vehicle to intentionally strike a co-worker and the co-worker’s father at their 64 Kelly Road residence at about 2:15 a.m.

According to police, Monzon and a co-worker got into an argument over a bar tab on the way to the residence after drinking together earlier in the evening. Police said Monzon drove forward and struck his 35-year-old co-worker in the driveway of the residence, flipping him over the hood of the vehicle before driving off.

Monzon allegedly returned a few minutes later and intentionally crashed into the garage door, a light post and drove over three lawn statues. When his coworker’s father came out of the Kelly Road residence, Monzon also intentionally struck him before leaving the scene, police said.

The second victim was treated at Caritas Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, Mass., for non-life threatening injuries, police said. Monzon was taken into custody near Route 28 and was held on a $5,000 cash bail pending his arraignment at Salem District Court.

‘Aggressive’ magazine peddlers had no license, didn’t register with police

Salem Editor — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:14:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

Police believe the nine door-to-door magazine subscription peddlers taken into custody on May 27 for “extremely aggressive and rude” behavior may be connected with four salesmen arrested last year after an alleged late night assault.

Spurred on by complaints from residents, authorities made the arrests after learning that none of the nine solicitors had a required state hawkers and peddlers license, nor had they registered with the town or the Police Department.

Police said none of the nine individuals had positive identification, complicating the arrests.

One of the men, William Freeman, 29, of Detroit, Mich., already had an outstanding warrant for his arrest in Portsmouth for allegedly giving officers in that community false information and was held on a $250 cash bail, according to authorities.

Another, Keyinna Jones, 20, of Baltimore, Md., has also been charged with false reports to law enforcement officials and is being held pending a positive identification. Police also charged Lydia Thomas, 26, of Norristown, Pa., with operating a motor vehicle without a license. Thomas was released with a court summons.

According to Capt. Shawn Patten, residents complained that the magazine salesmen would not take “no” for an answer. In one incident, Patten said a salesman had attempted to follow a resident into her home during the sales pitch.

While authorities have not yet learned who the nine salesmen arrested on Wednesday were working for, Patten said the individuals may have been part of the same group or company as the four men arrested last summer.

On June 26 of last year, officers took the four door-to-door magazine salesmen into custody after a passerby saw two of the men assaulting a third in the parking lot of a Wendy’s restaurant on North Broadway at 9:52 p.m. According to police, the man was refused dinner and then beaten by his supervisor and a coworker for failing to meet his sales quota.

Though police believed the men were originally from Chicago and worked for Pargon Sales Midwest Clearing going door-to-door selling magazine subscriptions, none of them could produce positive identification and listed a Lowell, Mass., hotel as their residence.

The four had registered with the Salem Police Department per state law before their arrests, though authorities took steps to remove the group from the community and, at the time, urged residents and businesses to report any further contact with the salesmen.

Now police are taking similar measures, urging residents to contact department at 893-1911 if they are approached by a magazine salesman. At the moment, police are trying to verify the identification of each of the nine arrested, Patten said.

Salem ‘Smash and grab’ thieves sought

Salem Editor — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 02:57:00 GMT

Although police say there has been a lull in the reported “smash and grab” thefts at the local fitness centers, including the Salem Athletic Club and Planet Fitness as reported on Tuesday, March 31, it doesn’t mean it won’t happen again.

Petty thieves do have to fence or sell the stolen goods, and they may brag about their ill-gotten gains, so for those who keep their eyes and ears open, there might be an opportunity for you to gain information about these thieves that you could pass on to the Crimeline of Southern New Hampshire at 893-6600 or (800) 498-4040 or online at www. crimelinesnh.com.

Your anonymity will be protected whether you use the phone or the Internet. There is a form on the Web page that will protect your anonymity. Callers will be given a secret Crimeline number, known only to the caller and Crimeline. If the information provided leads to an arrest, Crimeline will pay up to a $1,000 cash reward.

– Submitted by Ron Penczak
Crimeline of Southern
New Hampshire

Salem Police have busy St. Pat’s Day

Salem Editor — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 21:19:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

St. Patrick’s Day left some holiday revelers with more than just a hangover earlier this month.

Police arrested and charged five individuals with DWIs throughout the daylong celebration in honor of Ireland’s patron saint earlier this week and handled three separate automobile accidents, all involving alcohol.

While law enforcement officials said it was impossible to say whether there were more people were out and drinking than in past years, the number of arrests and accidents was unusual. Capt. Shawn Patten said the department had a full staff going into the holiday and had prepared for the day in the same way they prepared for the festivities following Super Bowl Sunday, the Fourth of July and Memorial Day Weekend.

“I think it’s another one of those holidays where people go out and celebrate,” said Salem police Capt. Shawn Patten.

According to authorities, Kevin Waterworth, 39, of Dracut, Mass., was taken into custody on his second offense DWI after his vehicle went of the road near 346 South Broadway Street shortly before midnight on March 17. Waterworth was released on a $200 cash bail, pending his arraignment.

Peter Conti, 46, of Watertown, Mass., was charged with driving while intoxicated after officers stopped his vehicle in the area of Rockingham Park Boulevard and Mall Road at about 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 18. Conti was released on a court summons pending his arraignment at the district courthouse.

A little more than 10 minutes later, officers reported a vehicle had rolled over several times near Cluff Road and severed a utility pole in half, forcing the road closed for several hours as National Grid crews repaired the damage.

The operator, Derek Mc- Crum, 24, of Pelham was transported to the Parkland Medical Center for nonlife-threatening injuries. Authorities charged McCrum with driving while intoxicated and released him on court summons while he was being treated for his injuries.

Roughly an hour later, Officers found about five individuals arguing in the middle of Pelham Road near a vehicle located off of the roadway. Discovering a second vehicle deep in the woods near Abbey Road at about 2:30 a.m., officers charged Brandon Brown, 19, of Salem with driving while intoxicated.

Brown was released on summons and will be arraigned at the district courthouse.

A Windham man was taken into custody after failing a field sobriety test at around 12:30 a.m., but passed a breath test. Though held in protective custody until a sober individual could pick him, police are not pressing any charges against him.

Salem man warns cop

Salem Editor — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 21:10:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

An 18-year-old man arrested earlier this month for operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license is facing more legal problems after he allegedly harassed a local police officer set to testify against him in court.

Police have charged Paul Braster of Salem with harassment and witness tampering after he allegedly called Sgt. Mike Wagner 20 to 30 times in reference to his legal troubles. Though police said Braster was repeatedly warned to stop, he allegedly used false pretenses to contact Wagner again and asked that the officer not testify against him.

Braster had been out on bail for his prior arrest which came after officers recognized him operating a vehicle with no license plates along North Main Street on March 19. Police said Braster ignored officers and proceeded to drive home on Pawtucket Lane where he was taken into custody.

While being processed, police said Braster made threats against police officers, including threatening to drive his vehicle through the front of the station after he was released.

Braster faces charges of disobeying a police officer, failure to display plates, operating after a suspension and criminal threatening stemming from that arrest.

Mass. man wanted for Salem credit card theft

Salem Editor — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:08:00 GMT

A warrant has been issued by Salem police for the suspect in the theft of credit cards from a local gym.

Wanted on a felony arrest warrant is Richard Woods, 48, of Charlestown, Mass., in connection with the theft and subsequent use of credit cards on Jan. 10 in Salem.

Woods and an accomplice were observed on video surveillance at both The Workout Club and Best Buy in Salem. The suspect stole credit cards from the locker room of the gym and then went on a shopping spree at Best Buy and the Apple Store, charging nearly $6,000 on various electronics.

Salem police credit two of the businesses for their efforts and cooperation during the investigation. Police said the media outlets who played footage of the theft and shopping spree were helpful, as well. This cooperation and video footage resulted in numerous tips identifying the suspect, ultimately leading to his positive identification and charges being sought.

Salem detectives are currently working with law enforcement agencies in Massachusetts to locate and take Woods into custody.