UPDATE 1 p.m.: Manchester Police responded to the area of Parkside Middle School Thursday morning after a parent observed a man walking near the school with firearm secured inside a holster. Officer Thomas Gonzales located a man matching the original description near the intersection of Granite Street and South Main Street a short time later.
Officer Gonzales identified the man as Mark Ricard, 61, of Manchester, and located a BB gun secured inside of an open-carry style holster. The officer determined Ricard was wanted on an unrelated electronic bench warrant out of Merrimack, so Ricard was placed into custody without incident.
Ricard’s BB gun was placed into evidence. He has no additional charges at this time and was released on personal recognizance bail. He is scheduled to appear in Merrimack District Court on December 18, 2018.
MANCHESTER, NH – The following information was released by Manchester School District regarding a situation involving a man spotted “open carrying” a gun near Parkside Middle School Thursday morning:
“As students were arriving at the Middle School at Parkside on Dec. 6 a parent reported seeing an adult with a weapon arguing with a child on a street near the school. Both Parkside and Gossler were put into a brief “reverse evacuation and secure campus” mode, meaning that children arriving at school were escorted inside and brought inside to ensure their safety.
Police responded, detained the individual and are continuing to investigate.”
Manchester Police Lt. Brian O’Keefe in responding to an inquiry said the individual was “open-carrying a firearm, which is legal in New Hampshire unless you are a convicted felon.” Although the incident remains under investigation, the man was placed into police custody on an unrelated outstanding bench warrant, O’Keefe said.
According to school district communications coordinator Sarah Jacobs, upon detainment of the individual, the secure campus was lifted and the school day resumed on a normal schedule at both schools.
