LACONIA — A recent law enforcement sweep focused on downtown netted over a dozen people charged and over 100 grams of narcotics seized, Police Chief Matt Canfield said Tuesday morning.
A three-week enhanced enforcement initiative between Aug. 17 and Sept. 6 targeted areas where residents and business owners expressed concern regarding drugs and other criminal activity.
The initiative effort included 326 extra patrols and resulted in 15 arrests for drug-related offenses, 21 citations for criminal trespassing, seven theft-related cases, 28 loitering calls, 63 criminal offense cases which could generate more arrests from warrants and 47 court summonses for city ordinance violations.
Over the course of the initiative, officers confiscated 35 grams of methamphetamine, 25 grams of heroin and fentanyl and 111 grams of cocaine, Canfield said.
The purpose of the initiative was to improve safety for residents and business owners and came as a response to concerns, Canfield said.
“We’ve received some quality of life concerns from business owners and residents in that area and this is a concentrated effort to address them,” Canfield said. “To make it safer for business owners and visitors.”
The initiative resulted in charges against Jamie Antelmi, Richard Brooks, Bruce Ellsworth, Seth Houston, Adam Kasian, Heather Paul, Thomas Riel, Eric Santti, Jeremiah Sciglimpaglia, Alex Spaulding, Kevin Thibaudeau, Ryan Tuckett, Velvet Weeks, James York and Caleb Young.
Police also arrested and charged one person at Bartlett Beach Monday night for allegedly threatening others with a knife.
Canfield said police were called to Bartlett Beach on Winnisquam Avenue at 11:08 p.m., after receiving reports of a male suspect threatening people with a large knife.
Officers arrived at the scene and located the suspect, later identified as Shiloh Hillman, 43, and during the course of an overnight investigation developed probable cause to charge him with five counts of criminal threatening with a deadly weapon and one count of attempted second-degree assault.
Hillman was arrested at the scene, refused bail and was transported to Belknap County Jail.
The case remains an active investigation and anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the police at 603-524-5252.
(1) comment
you need to check your facts with things some of these people might pof gotten arrested but it wasnt on drug charges
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