Laconia police make three arrests on drug charges

LACONIA — Two Laconia residents are facing drug trafficking charges following their arrest yesterday, Laconia police report.

Ernie Clark, 45, and Jennifer E. Downs, 25, both of 1 Dixon St., #3, in Laconia, were two of three people arrested on drug crimes over the past two days, the department announced in a statement released to the media.

Clark and Downs were at their residence when they were detained by state Probation and Parole officers for probation violations. Based on evidence found by Probation and Parole, as well as evidence from an ongoing investigation, and evidence from a search pursuant to a search warrant, both are being charged with drug crimes.

Clark was booked at the Laconia Police Department and charged with possession of a narcotic drug with intent to distribute and sales of a narcotic drug. Laconia police said they expected to charge Downs with three counts of sales of a narcotic drug.

Police identified the third person arrested as Connor Garfinkle, 19, of 736 Union Ave., #9, Laconia. Garfinkle was at his residence when he was detained on a probation violation by NH Probation and Parole. A charge of possession of a narcotic drug was filed by the Laconia Police Department on Wednesday. He was arraigned Thursday and ordered held on $3,000 cash bail at the Belknap County Jail.