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Snowblower stolen while resident showered

By Elizabeth Dinan

edinan@seacoastonline.com

PORTSMOUTH — When a Pheasant Lane resident heard her dogs barking Monday morning, she got out of the shower, looked out her window and saw a car drive off with her snowblower in the trunk.

According to the city’s public police log, the woman reported the theft at 11:06 a.m. and described the suspect car as having four doors and being dark blue in color. The woman told police the trunk lid was partially open and her orange snowblower was sticking partially out.

Police issued a “be on the lookout” alert, but were unable to locate the alleged thief.

Anyone with information is asked to call Anonymous Crime Stoppers phone line at 431-1199, or leave a tip on the Crime Stoppers web site at www.seacoastcrimestoppers.org.

Surprise Seabrook bust nets two suspects, guns and drugs

By Susan Morse
smorse@seacoastonline.com

SEABROOK — In a “break and rake” drug bust in Seabrook Tuesday night, police used “flash bang” to apprehend two suspects who had cocaine, a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun, shotguns, and other weapons inside of the home, according to Chief Patrick Manthorn.

Seabrook police, the local SWAT team called the Seacoast Emergency Response Team (SERT) and the state Drug Task Force, using a no-knock search warrant, smashed windows at the 1 Maple Ridge Road residence and tossed inside “flash bangs” — a device that gives a burst of bright light, temporarily blinding those inside.

SERT members positioned themselves outside the windows at the house, in case the suspected armed subjects took action, according to Manthorn.

Residents Eduardo Raposo, 34, and Sergio Pimentel, 29, were arrested without incident around 10 p.m. Both men are Portuguese and born outside of the U.S., said Manthorn, who had no information on how long the men have been living in Seabrook.

Police seized approximately two ounces of cocaine with a street value of $6,000. The men were selling the drug to local residents, Manthorn said. Police also found assorted prescription medications, an undisclosed amount of money, the semi-automatic pistol, four rifles and shotguns and knives.

Police believed the men had weapons, which was the reason for calling in SERT, said Manthorn. What police didn’t know before going to the single-family residence was that it had been broken up into three apartments on the ground, first and second floors.

There were no injuries, said Manthorn. The men arrested were living in the basement apartment, he said. Two women live on the first floor and one male on the second. All were home at the time of what police termed a “break and rake” bust.

No charges have been brought against any of the other tenants. The homeowner, whose name was not released, is a local business owner, said Manthorn.

The search warrant concluded a three-month investigation into the distribution of cocaine in Seabrook, according to Manthorn. Patrol officers Adam Laurent and David Buccheri provided information to the Drug Task Force. An undercover officer made a recent drug deal with the men, said Manthorn. Based on that information, the search warrant was issued.

Raposo and Pimentel were arraigned on Wednesday in Hampton District Court on charges of possession of a controlled drug with intent to sell. Judge Francis J. Frasier set bail at $50,000 cash for each. Raposo is not eligible to post bail until it is determined he is in this country legally, said Frasier.

They are next scheduled to appear in court on Monday, Feb. 11, at 11 a.m.

Exhaust thefts track rise in metal prices

By Elizabeth Dinan
edinan@seacoastonline.com

PORTSMOUTH -- After the Jan. 10 sun had set, a thief shimmied under a work truck parked in the Gosling Road Clean Harbors parking lot, sawed off the catalytic converter, then stole it.

Designed to reduce auto emissions, “cats” are coated in a wash of metals, including platinum, which this week reached an historic high value of $1,735 an ounce. Rhodium is also found in the mix and, while lesser known, was selling this week at $5,700 an ounce.

With scrap metal yards paying cash for cats, exhaust thefts have become the crime du jour for thieves following the metals market, say police.

Further proof can be found on the eBay auction site, which currently lists dozens of used cats for sale, all as scrap and most noting the platinum content.

“We do know it’s very widespread,” Police Capt. Janet Champlin said about cat crimes.

In the case of the Clean Harbors theft, Champlin said the cat was cut from the belly of a Ford pickup truck by someone using a Sawzall or hacksaw. News reports from Southern California, where cat crimes have been committed by the hundreds, cite thieves with socket wrenches removing them in under two minutes.

Victims typically discover they’ve been targeted when starting their vehicles and hearing their unmuffled engines.

Champlin said the crimes are similar to a recent rash of copper thefts because the metals are traded for cash. Investigating detectives “are in contact on a regular basis” with area scrap metal dealers, with “reputable” ones checking and logging sellers’ identification, said Champlin.

Louie Dow, of Dow’s Automotive on Islington Street, said if he gets a junk car, he cuts the catalytic converter before having it hauled.

“I found out about it when one of the junk guys asked if he could use my lift because he wanted to cut the converter out,” said Dow. “I’ve been putting them in the metal recycling dumpsters for years, not knowing.”

Not anymore.

Dow now sells them for $35 to $80, depending on size. The larger the car, the larger the converter, he said.

Foreign cars have bigger ones and some makes, like a Ford Explorer, can have four or five cats, said Dow. Just this week, he cut a double one from the underside of a Ford Taurus and expects to trade it for $70 cash.

To keep thieves from doing the same, police urge residents to park in well lit areas where someone with a saw will be noticed.

Majority supports keeping sidewalk clearing as-is

By Melissa Lattman

NEWFIELDS — The majority of people present at Tuesday night’s public hearing favored keeping sidewalk clearing as it is in town. About 25 residents came with many praising the hard work of the Road Agent Brian Knipstein.

“I have lived on Main Street for 18 years and I have never had a problem with sidewalks,” said Denise Marshall.

Resident Tom Conner who maintained the sidewalks previously said, “I commend Brian and his crew for the fine job they do on the sidewalks.”

The hearing capped off a flurry over the last several weeks of heated words, subsequent apologies, and a look at sidewalk maintenance procedures in town. Residents expressed last month concerns of snowy sidewalks causing children to walk in the streets to get to school.

The snowy sidewalk issue came to a head after Selectmen Michael Woodworth prior to the Jan. 8 board of selectmen meeting characterized a resident’s complaint as “bitching.” During discussion of snow removal at the Jan. 8 meeting a heated debate occurred between Woodworth and a resident. The Chairman of the Board James McIlroy raised his voice and used his hand as a gavel to restore order to the meeting. A special meeting on Jan. 15 included apologies from Woodworth and McIlroy. Tuesday’s meeting reviewed sidewalk snow removal including timing of plowing, size of the machine, plowing priorities, safety, and liability.

State law keeps towns from liability due to snow as long as a good faith effort to remove snow following a prioritized list is made and there is no gross negligence or reckless disregard. Sidewalks are sixth on the town’s snow priority list following streets, the fire and police station, the school, intersections, and library parking.

The challenges of winter storms were discussed “(There is) no way we can 100 percent guarantee at all times (cleared) sidewalks even with our best efforts. The sidewalks are not always going to be cleaned with the type and timing of the storm. School cancellations and delays are unknowns. People plow and sidewalks get covered again,” McIlroy said.

The cost to do the sidewalks is about $130 to $140 per storm. When asked Knipstein said, “(Cleaning sidewalks) is a thankless job. I have a $35,000 machine tied up all winter. Doing the sidewalks more is a manpower issue.” He added an additional person would need to be added so the cost would actually be $65 per hour times the length of the storm. The same guy is currently switched from task to task. Plowing starts when police dispatch calls or when Knipstein notices snow on the pavement, which means between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. he has to monitor snow conditions, he said.

Sometimes an inch or so of snow is left intentionally when ice is expected, because it is easier to clear and helps prevent black ice conditions. Sidewalks are salted if there is a significant amount of ice. Newfields does not have a full-time highway department, said Knipstein.

“I think everybody’s driveway has ice. It’s winter you’re going to have ice,” said Jeff Buxton.

Some resident suggested wearing boots and parents might need to transport children to school.

Resident Peter Allen spoke several times expressing concerns over safety, liability, and damage to stone walls, ice and timeliness. “The issue was timeliness can the work start at a different time. Not (spending) more money on this. Are we doing everything we can within our means and the tools we have,” Allen said.

Selectmen Wes Moore said, “It’s a good conversation for us to have. The only thing we can change is more money. If someone wants to change this come to the deliberative session and add money to the highway budget; …public safety begins at home.”

Moore asked for a show of hands at the meeting and the overwhelming majority of people indicated keeping the sidewalk snow removal program as is.

Footprints a focus in former N.H. candidate's trial

By Holly Ramer
Associated Press

DOVER -- A firefighter testified Wednesday that he saw a footprint leading into the woods near where Gary Dodds crashed his car in 2006, bolstering the congressional candidate's claim that he spent the night lost outside.

Michael McShane's testimony on the second day of Dodds' trial contradicted that of a state trooper, who testified earlier that the only footprints in the area — other than those made by neighbors who responded to the crash — led from the car back to the highway. But McShane, part of the first rescue crew at the scene, also told jurors that when he went into the woods to search, he found no other footprints or signs that anyone had entered the snowy woods.

Prosecutors say Dodds faked his story about crossing an icy river and spending a night in the woods after crashing his car that April, and that he soaked his feet in cold water for hours as part of a ploy to attract attention to his flagging campaign for the Democratic nomination in the 1st Congressional District.

Defense lawyers argue that Dodds has been wrongly accused by law enforcement officials to deflect attention from their bungled search and rescue effort.

Dodds' wife, Cynthia, offered still another possible explanation while the search — which she considered inadequate — was still in progress, State Police Capt. Robert Quinn testified Wednesday.

"She told me that her husband did not drink, didn't have a girlfriend, didn't do drugs. So basically, she felt this was suspicious in nature," Quinn said.

"She also told me she felt the Democratic Party may be behind his current situation ... because the Democratic Party wanted Jim Craig to win," Quinn said.

Craig, then a state representative, was considered the front-runner for the nomination at the time.

Dodds, 43, a businessman, is charged with falsifying evidence, a felony, and misdemeanor charges of leaving the scene of an accident and causing false public alarm. He faces up to seven years in prison if convicted.

Dodds' car struck and went over a highway guardrail in Dover on the evening of April 5, 2006. He later said he swerved to avoid hitting a deer but remembered little else other than wading through the icy river and wandering in the woods.

Authorities estimate they spent $18,000 searching for Dodds with teams assisted by dogs and a helicopter. Dodds was found the next night, a mile from the crash scene under a pile of leaves, fading in and out of consciousness and missing a shoe.

In opening statements Tuesday, County Attorney Thomas Velardi said physical and medical evidence will show that Dodds' injuries were caused by immersing his feet in cold water for 5-10 hours rather than spending the night outdoors after being fully submerged in the river.

Quinn said he spoke to Dodds, whose feet were purple, when he arrived at Portsmouth Regional Hospital after being found. Dodds, without opening his eyes, "asked if there was a fire. He said that he was confused. He thought the car was on fire," Quinn said.

Dodds said he remembered being up to his head in the river and felt his fleece vest had saved his life, Quinn said.

Dodds was never considered a contender in the primary, which he lost to Carol Shea-Porter. She defeated Republican Rep. Jeb Bradley in the general election.

UNH, faculty contract talks at impasse

By Associated Press

DURHAM -- The University of New Hampshire and the faculty union say they have reached an impasse in contract talks.

After an exchange of proposals last week, both sides will now seek an outside mediator to resolve differences.

UNH faculty have been without a contract for 19 months. The last contract, which was settled in 2003, remains in effect until both sides agree on a new one.

Compensation and benefits have been the sticking points in negotiations.