Drug sweep results in 14 arrests to combat ‘street-level’ drug dealers

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MANCHESTER, NH – Manchester Police Special Enforcement Division, along with New Hampshire State Police Narcotics Investigation Unit and the Drug Enforcement Administration-HIDTA Task Force, conducted a drug sweep on Sept. 24 which resulted in 14 arrests.

Some of the arrests were made for prior arrest warrants while others were made based on an ongoing investigation into drug-related activities.

The operation began at 12:30 p.m. at 495 Old Wellington Road. Detectives and Agents executed a search and located and arrested Mark Gray, 38, of Boston. He was located inside of his 2000 Mercedes when detectives arrived on scene. Gray was the target of the investigation, so both the Old Wellington Road address and his vehicle were the targets of the search warrant. They made contact with Gray, who initially refused to exit the vehicle. He eventually exited but continued being non-compliant while attempting to reach for an item in his pants, police said. He was brought to the ground after detectives deployed a taser. He remained uncooperative in the booking area and pushed one of the officers on scene, which prompted the obstruction of government operations charge.

He was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled drug (5 grams marijuana); sale/manufacture of controlled drug; resisting arrest; and obstructing government operations. Detectives located and seized $5,861 in cash, 5 grams of marijuana and his Mercedes. He will appear in the 9th Circuit Court-Manchester on September 25, 2015. His vehicle was seized as a result of the investigation.


Investigators executed the search warrant before continuing on the joint operation. Investigators located and arrested Errol Flynn, 42, of Manchester on Valley Street, across form the Manchester Police Department. He had an active arrest warrant for sale of a controlled drug (crack cocaine). A search incident to arrest reveled he was in possession of 7.5 grams of crack cocaine and 2 grams of marijuana.

Flynn was charged with Possession of a Controlled Drug and will appear in the 9th Circuit Court in Manchester on September 25, 2015.


Detectives made the next arrest near 472 Granite St., which had been a target address based on numerous drug complaints. They observed a 2003 Subaru pull in front of the address approximately 4 p.m.  and observed the passenger exit the vehicle and briefly enter the Granite Street apartment. They conducted a motor vehicle stop and identified and arrested Dusty Frasca, 31, of Nashua.

Frasca was charged with Possession of a Controlled Drug after they allegedly located .6 grams of heroin on him. He will appear in the 9th Circuit Court-Manchester on September 25, 2015.


Approximately 20 minutes later investigators located one of the targets at the Econo-Lodge, 75 West Hancock St. Jon Artis, 27, of Lowell, Mass., allegedly engaged in a hand-to-hand drug transaction, which the detectives witnessed. They attempted to stop Artis after identifying themselves as law enforcement officers, but he refused and ran down a flight of stairs. After a brief struggle, he was subdued by use of a taser.

Artis was in possession of 1.3 grams of heroin and charged with sale of a controlled drug (warrant); and resisting arrest/detention. He will appear in the 9th Circuit Court-Manchester on September 25, 2015.


Approximately 6:15 p.m. police observed suspicious activity in the parking lot of Market Basket on Elm Street. They observed two vehicles engaging in what they believed to be illegal drug transactions, so they stopped the 2001 Ford Taurus. Andrea Paquette, 27, of Windam, was in possession of 9.2 grams of marijuana, so she was taken into custody without incident. She was released on $1,000 personal recognizance bail and will appear in the 9th Circuit Court-Manchester on October 29, 2015.


Additional plain clothes detectives observed two females engage in a possible hand-to-hand transaction around 6:45 p.m. in the area of Beech and Laurel streets. They conducted a field stop and spoke with Stephanie Beard, 27, no fixed address. Beard was charged with possession of a controlled drug (heroin) and also charged with an outstanding robbery warrant. She will appear in the 9th Circuit Court-Manchester on September 25, 2015.


At approximately 7:55 p.m. police conducted a motor vehicle stop of a yellow Mitsubishi Lancer in the area of Wellington Road and Interstate 93. They received information earlier in the day about this vehicle possibly being involved in illegal drug trafficking. Angel Alicea, 53, of Manchester was  seated in the rear passenger seat and was in possession of cocaine, and was charged with  possession of a controlled drug. He will appear in the 9th Circuit Court-Manchester on October 27, 2015. He was released on $1,000 personal recognizance.


The following individuals were arrested on previous warrants: Louise McIlvar, 35, of Manchester (sale of a controlled drug); Jason Littlefield, 38, of Manchester (theft by deception); Reagan Gauthier, 34, of Manchester (sale of a controlled drug); Aaron Isthmian Smith (No photo), 53, of Manchester (receiving stolen property); Jeremy Varnado, 36, of Manchester (receiving stolen property); Adam Gagnon, 37, of Manchester (sale of a controlled drug); Lawrence Moore, 32 ,of Manchester (sale of a controlled drug – currently in custody in NH State Prison, booked in absentia).

More joint investigations are underway and additional drug sweeps will be conducted as a result, said police.  The goal of these operations are to ” rid the city of street level dealers,” in an attempt to make a positive and immediate impact on the illegal drug industry here, police said.


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About this Author

Carol Robidoux

PublisherManchester Ink Link

Longtime NH journalist and publisher of ManchesterInkLink.com. Loves R&B, German beer, and the Queen City!