folo to Belmont Hostage taking

LACONIA - The 20-year-old woman who remained inside a barricaded Belmont home last Friday with a wanted parolee was ordered held on $50,000 cash bail yesterday.

Diamond Morrill appeared in Laconia District Court yesterday morning where she was arraigned on two misdemeanor charges of endangering the welfare of a child and resisting arrest.

Morrill is also charged with three felonies for recklessly endangering the lives of three police officers — Laconia Police Sgt. Richard Simmons, Belmont Patrol Officer Joel Pickowicz and Deputy Sheriff David Perkins — because she allegedly fired a 9 mm pistol in their direction during an armed standoff last Friday morning.

According to affidavits submitted by the Belknap County Sheriff's Department, Morrill and Christopher M. Kelly remained in a bedroom with the 4-year-old daughter of the woman who lives at 672 Union Road while members of the Sheriff's department, the Belknap Regional Special Operations Group, the Belmont Police and the U.S. Marshal's Office surrounded the house preparing to arrest Kelly, who they had reason to believe was armed.

The resident of the home, Alisha Morgan, came out immediately.

The affidavits stated Morrill, who was sleeping when police arrested her, had heard people outside the home earlier in the evening and had fired three rounds from the gun. Her statements about the direction she alleged fired the gun were inconsistent.

The affidavits also said when Kelly finally came out of the house with the 4-year-old he told police that Morrill was still inside "sleeping" and that "she had the gun...I can't believe she (expletive) shot it."

Deputy Sheriff Lt. Christopher Cost told Judge Lawrence MacLeod, Jr. that Atty. David Bownes argument that Merrill was asleep and offered no resistance was inaccurate because a state police robot first entered the room where Morrill was found and that the room had been barricaded with mattresses and furniture.

Morrill was represented by Bownes, who argued that members of her family, who sat behind her in court, would allow her not only to live with them but would monitor her behavior — agreeing to report to police any bail infractions.

Bownes said Morrill was beset by drug and alcohol issues and agreed to seek treatment immediately. He said she has no record, is surrounded by family who all live in either Laconia or Gilford and there is no reason to think she wouldn't show up for court.

"This may be just an aberration," Bownes said of Morrill's alleged actions.

"The handgun was found within reach in the bedroom with three spent rounds," Cost countered. He told MacLeod it was a 9 mm handgun with the serial number filed off.

The police affidavits said Morrill allegedly admitted the gun was hers and that she had gotten it from a man she identified as "Jake", with whom she allegedly participated in a drug deal the Thursday before Friday's standoff.

She allegedly told police that she and "Jake" went to the Gilford Cinemas for a drug deal and she watched "Jake" rob the man.

She said "Jake" gave her the gun for protection and that she was scared the night of the standoff because she thought the person "Jake" allegedly robbed was coming after her in retaliation.

Cost also said that Morrill should be held on high cash bail because she violated the provisions of a temporary restraining order placed against her by Franklin District Court Judge Edward "Ned" Gordon. The hearing for the permanent order is scheduled for Sept. 22 in Franklin.

In the Aug. 23 application for the restraining order, Morrill's former roommate — a female resident in a Northfield apartment complex — said Morrill repeatedly threatened her with physical harm and once "threw cans of food at her."

Northfield Police confirmed they had been on at least two calls to the apartment.

"Although I don't doubt the sincerity of the family, I believe she has reasons to flee the jurisdiction and may be dangerous, " said MacLeod. "Bail will stay at $50,000 cash."

A grand jury will be convened to determine probable cause for the three felonies.

Cost said Kelly has been returned to the N.H. State Prison on possible parole violations and police are in the process of determining what charges will be brought against him.

Morgan is charged with one misdemeanor count of hindering apprehension and is free on personal recognizance bail. Speaking with the press on Friday, she identified Kelly as her boyfriend.