MANCHESTER, NH – A Nashua man faces charges of drug possession and resisting arrest after a traffic stop Early Tuesday led to an altercation with police.
Manchester Police Officer’s Kevin O’Meara and Matthew O’Connor conducted a motor vehicle stop at Cedar Street and Maple Street on Nov. 22. The officers noted the operator of the vehicle failed to use a turn signal while exiting a Spruce Street parking spot.
Officer O’Meara approached the operator who identified himself as Dwight Bennett, 37, of Manchester. He immediately detected a strong odor of burnt marijuana coming from the vehicle as Officer O’Connor spoke with the passenger, Anthony Harris, 34, of Nashua.
Harris exited the car and consented to a search. The officer located a small bag of what he believed to be heroin and placed it on the trunk of the vehicle as he continued to search Harris. Harris allegedly grabbed the item and brought the item towards his mouth. Officer O’Meara grabbed Harris’ arms as they fell to the ground in an attempt to prevent him from swallowing the drugs. Harris fought with the officers and refused to comply with the arrest. Harris was taken into custody once the taser was deployed. He was handcuffed and placed inside of the transport wagon.
The officers were unable to locate the small bag of drugs, so Harris was taken to a local hospital as a safety precaution to make sure he did not suffer a potential overdose. The officers also located a “blunt” style marijuana cigarette on Harris, so he was charged with possession of a controlled drug, falsifying physical evidence and resisting arrest/detention.
Bennett was not charged in the incident. Harris is scheduled to appear in the 9th Circuit Court-Manchester on November 22, 2016.
