Police investigating incident where minor was threatened with gun, political sign theft

Police are investigating after an adult allegedly threatened a child with a handgun Thursday afternoon.

Likely between 2 and 3 p.m. on Oct. 30, an adult male allegedly threatened an 11-year-old child with a handgun at a bus stop located on Gilford Avenue in Laconia. The adult’s actions were apparently a response to an earlier dispute between two children at a Laconia school. 

“We do not believe that there’s any harm to the public at this time,” Police Chief Matt Canfield said Friday. 

Police recovered the handgun, but have not yet brought any charges. They’re investigating the allegation as felony criminal threatening with a deadly weapon. It appears this instance was an isolated incident. 

“I think it’s definitely a unique and unusual report to us in this manner,” Canfield said. 

Police are seeking assistance from anyone in the public who may have information regarding this event, and encourage those individuals to contact the Laconia Police Department through the Tip411 app available for free, texting keyword "Laconia" and a message to 847411 anonymously, or calling 603-524-5252.

Anyone with surveillance footage, including from a home or business or a video doorbell, is encouraged to review that footage for additional information. 

And police are also investigating the widespread theft and removal of political signs as the city inches closer to the Tuesday, Nov. 4 Municipal Election.

“We’re aware of several reports of the removal of signs from properties, both public and private properties, within the city limits,” Canfield said Friday.

Canfield said the removal of political signs is illegal and violators are subject to fines or other penalties, including criminal charges.

Those reports come from every area in the city, Canfield said, and started coming in this week. Dozens of political signs of varying political allegiance have been reportedly removed. 

“We are actively investigating these reports,” he said.

Police are scouring for video footage of potential violations and for potential witnesses to the acts. Anyone in the public who may have video surveillance footage of signs being removed or stolen is encouraged to review their footage and contact the Laconia Police Department. 

Removing, defacing or destroying political signs is serious business in New Hampshire — it’s forbidden, and state law RSA 664:21 spells out a fine of $250 for each piece of political advertising affected, up to a maximum of $2,000. 

Violators could also find themselves subject to criminal charges and disenfranchisement, as was the case for a Northfield man who pleaded guilty in Franklin District Court this week to one misdemeanor charge of unlawfully removing political signs.

On Tuesday, Attorney General John Formella wrote in a press release that Nick Moorhead, 55, pleaded guilty after removing political signs from the front yard of a Northfield residence prior to the Nov. 5, 2024, General Election. 

The court imposed a $250 fine, plus a $60 penalty assessment, for a total of $310. Moorhead’s right to vote in New Hampshire is terminated, unless later restored by the New Hampshire Supreme Court.

“The Election Law Unit reminds the public that RSA 664:17 governs both the placement and the removal of political advertising, and violations of the statute can result in civil or criminal penalties. See RSA 664:17 (“No person shall remove, deface, or knowingly destroy any political advertising which is placed on or affixed to public property or any private property except for removal by the owner of the property, persons authorized by the owner of the property, or a law enforcement officer removing improper advertising. Political advertising placed on or affixed to any public property may be removed by state, city, or town maintenance or law enforcement personnel.”),” Formella wrote in the release.

Any person who believes a political sign has been unlawfully erected should contact the Election Law Unit or the owner of the property where the sign was erected, Formella wrote. Any person who believes a political sign has been illegally removed should contact the Election Law Unit online at doj.nh.gov/bureaus/election-law-unit or their local law enforcement agency.