New Hampton resident facing felony charges after allegedly threatening neighbors with guns

A New Hampton resident is facing charges after allegedly shooting an estimated 20 bullets at people and nearby homes on Saturday.

Vanessa Cooke-Case, 50, of Winona Road, was charged with felony reckless conduct and criminal threatening, after an incident at at her home on May 30, according to a report from State Police.

Cooke-Case appeared in Laconia District Court on June 1, for a reading of her charges. Those charges include three felonies: two counts of reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, and one charge of criminal threatening with a deadly weapon.

She was also charged with five misdemeanors: resisting arrest; harassment; criminal trespassing; theft of items valued less than $1,000; and assault on a law enforcement officer, after kicking a state trooper. Cooke-Case also was charged with two violations, including disorderly conduct and having dogs off-leash, as she allegedly had dogs off a leash around livestock and other animals.

Troopers from Troop E responded to reports of a suspicious person on Waukewan Road, in New Hampton, at 9:45 a.m. on Saturday, and after identifying Cooke-Case, she was served with a no-trespass order.

A probable cause affidavit submitted by Trooper Thomas Seager and signed by Trooper Daniel Ingram, the alternate director of Troop E, states Trooper Tom McSweeney responded to the residence for a report of a suspicious person. When he arrived, he spoke to the caller, who said there were ongoing issues with his neighbor, identified as Cooke-Case.

The resident told police Cooke-Case came to his house yelling at him and banging on his window, telling him she was unarmed. Cooke-Case allegedly continued yelling at him, calling him vulgar names, before going to a camper on the property and taking two ceramic roosters.

Cooke-Case allegedly then went back to the driveway and went into the neighbor's truck, and took a garage door opener and opened the garage, which had been locked. Police say she then left the garage with the roosters and clicker.

Center Harbor Police Chief Mark Chase arrived, retrieved the items and returned them to the neighbor, and escorted Cooke-Case from the property. Chase and McSweeney served her with a criminal trespass order from the property. Police say she told them she had never been arrested before, and thought it would be fun, before becoming “irate,” and saying her neighbor “had pull.”

At 4 p.m., troopers returned, after receiving reports Cooke-Case was verbally threatening neighbors. Troopers remained in the area to investigate, according to the report from State Police.

The affidavit states McSweeney received another call from the neighbor who called before, who said Cooke-Case returned and was yelling at him from the road, but had not entered the property.

Seager went to the same address earlier that day, for another report from a neighboring couple, who said Cooke-Case was chasing two dogs around the neighborhood and attempting to retrieve them. The resident told police he helped her get the dogs and brought them home, and once there, she told him she was trying to get a truck for her daughter, and she tried to take one from her neighbor earlier in the day.

Seager said Cooke-Case was referring to the truck belonging to the initial caller. The second caller said Cooke-Case told them she was going to go back with her gun, and “put it in the mouth of anyone who got in the way.”

Seager asked what kind of firearm it was, and learned it was a 9 mm. The caller said Cooke-Case had her neighbor’s name written on her wall, and something written on her arm. Cooke-Case allegedly also told neighbors she was not leaving her house and would not be removed, and they left her home.

From this information, Seager said he thought Cooke-Case was referring to going back to the first neighbor's house.

Seager spoke to another neighbor, who said Cooke-Case had been outside yelling in her yard the week before. The neighbor told police they went to check on Cooke-Case, who was sitting on her porch with a handgun on her lap. The neighbor also observed two loaded magazines next to her.

Seager applied for a warrant for the charges of disorderly conduct for yelling and banging on the window; theft of ceramic roosters and the garage clicker; criminal trespassing; and criminal threatening with a deadly weapon, for making statements that she intended to go back to the neighbor’s house to steal a vehicle, with a gun.

Troopers came back to Cooke-Case’s home at 8 p.m., for reports she was shooting into the air, according to State Police.

The affidavit states Cooke-Case was outside her residence “shooting in the area and towards other residence.” The caller told police Cooke-Case’s dogs attacked her chicken and killed it, and now she was outside shooting a handgun in the air “towards the roadway and neighbors,” and yelling, “everyone will die.”

Seager heard between five and seven gunshots when he arrived at Cooke-Case’s residence. People told Seager that Cooke-Case fired rounds from her gun before she went back home, then came out again, to fire more shots.

Seager stated he approached the residence, and Cooke-Case was outside shooting. He saw her fire a “few more rounds” before laying on the ground with her hands in the air. She was given “multiple commands” but did not comply, according to the report.

While police attempted to put Cooke-Case in handcuffs, she tried to pull away, and then tried to run from police while she was cuffed. She was placed in custody, and told police she had bombs in her residence, and on her person.

Police checked the property to confirm there was no one injured or involved, and stated there was a strong smell of gunpowder inside the home. State Police said there is no current public threat.

Cooke-Case was charged with disorderly conduct, theft, and criminal trespassing and threatening, and then also charged with additional counts of reckless conduct with a deadly weapon and criminal threatening with a deadly weapon. While she was being taken into custody, she allegedly kicked a trooper in the right leg, and was charged with assault of an officer.

Police determined Cooke-Case fired approximately 20 rounds from two pistols. Seager found shell casings both inside and outside the home.

The complaints state Cooke-Case fired multiple shots from a Springfield handgun, and also a Glock handgun, toward a home with a resident inside.

Troopers were assisted by Center Harbor and Meredith police, and the Belknap County Sheriff’s Office.

Cooke-Case was held in Belknap County Jail before her court appearance on Monday, in Laconia District Court.

Judge Laura Lombardi ruled Cooke-Case remain in jail before trial, as she would put certain community members in danger.

She is also prohibited from contacting four people.

Anyone with information about the incidents should contact Seager at Thomas.M.Seager@dos.nh.gov.

Cooke-Case is scheduled to appear in Laconia District Court for a probable cause hearing at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10.