1 person charged after hit-and-run, reckless driving spree Halloween night

LACONIA — Police charged one person with reckless conduct with a deadly weapon — a pickup truck — as well as leaving the scene of an accident last weekend. In a separate incident, another person was charged with threatening a neighbor, also last weekend.

On Halloween, just after 2 p.m., police received a call about a male driving a Toyota truck apparently following his wife in Lakeport. During his investigation, Officer Ted Malagodi identified the suspected vehicle as a 2008 Toyota Tundra, and identified the driver as Matthue Leblanc, 28. 

At about 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 31, police received another call, involving an older model Toyota pickup that allegedly drove across the field at Leavitt Park, then ran two stop signs, speeding away.

Just before 8 p.m. on Halloween, police received a call about an alleged hit-and-run accident at McDonald's on Union Avenue. The caller told police a Toyota Tundra pickup truck hit another car in the drive-thru, and fled.

An hour later, police responded to Shore Drive for a report of a hit-and-run accident, and found an injured adult male pedestrian, who was walking with another adult family member when they observed a gray or white lifted pickup parked on the side of the road. As the pair walked past the truck, they heard it speed in their direction. 

The injured pedestrian was hit from behind, and the other pedestrian was unhurt after jumping out of the way. The pickup sped away. One pedestrian was taken to Concord Hospital-Laconia with non-life-threatening injuries.

At 9:47 p.m., officers located the Toyota Tundra on Church Street. The vehicle was towed for further investigation. Officers interviewed Leblanc. 

On Nov. 2, Leblanc was taken into custody at about 5 p.m., after police got a warrant for charges including leaving the scene of an accident, and reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, both felonies.

Leblanc declined to put up bail for his release, and remains in county jail ahead of his first court appearance in Laconia District Court. 

All these are being actively investigated. Anyone with information should call Sgt. Richard Carlson at 603-524-5252.

At 11:40 a.m. on Nov. 2, police received a complaint of threatening near Lakeview Avenue and Academy Square. 

Officers met with the apparent victim, who told them he was in a dispute with James Hobsch, 77, over his alleged depositing of leaves onto the neighbor's property. Following a verbal argument, Hobsch allegedly threatened the victim with a small sledgehammer. 

Hobsch was taken into custody at his residence on Academy Street shortly thereafter and charged with criminal threatening. He refused to put up bail for his release and is currently in jail, waiting for his first appearance in Laconia District Court, according to a police media release.

Police are actively investigating the altercation. Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Domenic Pietrafesa at 603-524-5252.