MANCHESTER, NH – A city man, found injured and unconscious in a snowbank, is under arrest after assaulting two police officers who were trying to assist medical personnel in administering aid.
Patrol Officers Lisa Callahan and Ryan Heile responded to Joliette and Kelley streets at 10:10 a.m. on April 3 to assist Manchester Fire and AMR Ambulance crews with a man who was reportedly combative. Medical professionals were assisting a man who was allegedly passed out in a snowbank while bleeding from his face.
Matthew Mellor, 31 of Manchester, had became combative with the medical staff on scene and they grew concerned he may have received head trauma prior to their arrival based on his erratic behavior, pinpoint pupils and facial injuries. Mellor was bleeding from his face and mouth when the officers arrived, so they attempted to speak with him to get him to comply with the medical personnel on scene.
The officers attempted to pat him down to ensure the safety of those treating him. Mellor head-butted Officer Callahan and elbowed Officer Heile in the chest as they attempted to pat him down. He became extremely combative and made several attempts to pull away from the officers. He was fighting the officers and began spitting at them so they wrestled him to the ground and eventually placed a “spit mask” on him to protect them from his bloody saliva.
Mellor remained combative by kicking Officer Heile’s chin and stomping on Officer Callahan’s foot even after he was placed into custody. He was transported to the Elliot Hospital for medical treatment. Mellor refused to explain how he was injured or why he was on Joliette Street. He was charged with resisting arrest/detention and three counts of simple assault. He appeared in the 9th Circuit Court-Manchester on April 4, 2017.
