Laconia resident charged with meth possession in Colebrook

COLEBROOK — A Laconia resident was charged in Colebrook after she was found sleeping in Walgreens parking lot, allegedly with methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle.

Raeven Checkos, 42, was charged with possession of a controlled drug and transporting drugs in a motor vehicle.

According to a report by the Colebrook Police Department, at 1:58 a.m. on Aug. 24, a Colebrook Police officer saw a suspicious vehicle parked in the lot with an unconscious woman in the driver’s seat. The vehicle was running, with its reverse lights on.

The officer pulled into the parking lot and arranged the push bumper of his cruiser to the rear of the vehicle, to make sure the driver wouldn’t drive into the Walgreens if startled, according to the report.

Backup was provided by U.S. Border Patrol, and Checkos was removed from the vehicle and given a field sobriety test upon their arrival. According to Sgt. Cole Noyes, Border Patrol was called due to the town’s location, only about 10 miles from Canada. The agency is Colebrook’s only backup.

Authorities searched the vehicle and found drugs alleged to be methamphetamine, as well as a large bag of paraphernalia that included a glass smoking device. The report added the device was believed to have contained liquid methamphetamine. Photographs provided by Colebrook Police show a glass pipe in a cup holder in plain view, as well as another alleged smoking device in the door handle.

According to Noyes, Checkos was in possession of a “small bag” of suspected methamphetamine that appeared to be for personal use. The department does not test alleged drugs at the scene, but instead sent a sample to the State Police Forensic Laboratory to be tested and weighed.

Checkos was taken to the Colebrook Police Department for booking. She was released on a promise to return to court, and has a date scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 9, in Colebrook District Court.

This is not the first brush with the law for Checkos, who was indicted for methamphetamine possession in 2020 and 2021. According to the Jan. 2, 2020, Laconia Police log, Checkos was charged with possession of methamphetamine, and was also held on an out-of-town warrant.

Noyes said over the last five years there has been an “uptick” in drug activity in the area, adding it has not been limited to any specific substance.

Last month the State Police Narcotics Unit, in collaboration with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and police in Colebrook and Berlin, led a four-month investigation in the North Country, resulting in 17 people charged. The investigation also led to the seizure of crack cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine.

Noyes said while Colebrook tends to be slightly behind the rest of the state, the problem is real, like in any community.

“In general, it has been all across the board,” Noyes said. “We’re all dealing with the same thing.”