MANCHESTER, NH – A man armed with knives who caught the attention of police for his odd behavior was arrested after he refused to cooperate during questioning.
On March 25 just before 9 a.m. Officers Thomas Whelan and Adam Beland drove past Bagel Café, Lincoln and Hanover streets when they observed a man, later identified as Ricky Hartford, 32, of Manchester, walking in the parking lot. The officers were drawn to Hartford because of his erratic hand motions and aggressive actions while pointing at another vehicle in the parking lot.
The officers say they were not sure if Hartford was about to engage in a physical confrontation, so they stopped to check his condition. They approached the man as he got into the driver’s seat of a 2011 Honda Accord.
Officer Beland approached Hartford from the driver’s side as Officer Whelan approached from the passenger’s side. Officer Whelan noticed a large knife on the passenger seat of the Honda, which was running. He also observed a smaller knife in Hartford’s right front pocket. The officer asked Hartford to get out of the car due to his behavior and the presence of the knives.
Hartford refused and began reaching for his right front pocket, according to police. Officer Whelan immediately grabbed Hartford as he ordered him to show his hands. Hartford allegedly refused while reaching for his pocket. The officers physically removed Hartford from the vehicle and located a box cutter knife in the same pocket Hartford was reaching for.
Hartford continued to resist the officers and was taken into custody, charged with resisting arrest/detention and placed into handcuffs.
Officer Whelan located a small bag of marijuana in Hartford’s pocket during a search.
He was also charged with possession of a controlled drug (marijuana) and taken to police headquarters. He was released on $1,000 personal recognizance and will appear in the 9th Circuit court-Manchester on April 29, 2015.
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