NH Gang Unit Arrests 2 On Drug Charges

MANCHESTER, NH — The Queen City police’s gang prevention unit picked up two men last night on drug charges after the driver of an SUV was reportedly circling parts of Manchester and not using turn signals, according to police. Elvis Rodriguez, 39, of Manchester, was arrested on Feb. 13, 2018, on two counts possession of controlled drug-heroin, crack cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of a controlled drug-cocaine, resisting arrest, and possession of less than 3/4 ounce of marijuana. Steven Torres, 37, of Haverhill, MA, was also charged with transporting drugs in a motor vehicle.

Editor's Note: This post was derived from info supplied by the Manchester Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the name removal request process for New Hampshire’s Patch police reports.

At around 6 p.m. last night, police conducted a motor vehicle stop after the operator of a relatively new Infiniti SUV reportedly failed to use a turn signal – after “circling the area of Bridge Street and Ash Street and on more than one occasion,” according to Lt. Brian O’Keefe of the Manchester Police Department.

As an officer approached the vehicle, he alleged that a passenger – Rodriguez – was making “several furtive movements” while reaching into his pants.

“He was ultimately removed from the SUV when the officers located a small bag of heroin on the front passenger floorboard,” O’Keefe alleged. “Rodriguez struggled with the officers as he was placed into custody.”

Officers allegedly found 9.7 grams of heroin, 7.8 grams of crack, 1.8 grams of cocaine, 2.1 grams of marijuana, “stuffed in the front of his pants, which is the same area he was reaching for prior to the arrest,” O’Keefe stated. Officers also allegedly found $550 in cash.

Rodriguez was reportedly on probation/parole so he was held and was arraigned earlier today in Hillsborough County Superior Court-North. Torres was also expected in Manchester District Court today, according to police.

Rodriguez, who previously lived in Lawrence, MA, was arrested by Rockingham County Sheriffs in October 2015, on a judge's order to arrest for failure to appear at the arraignment of a reckless conduct with a vehicle charge as well as reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, a vehicle, conduct after an accident, disobeying an officer, and reckless conduct. In August 2013, he was arrested in Lawrence, for driving after license revocation, attaching plates, driving an unregistered motor vehicle, driving an uninsured and unregistered motor vehicle, receiving stolen property and illegal possession of a Class E substance, according to the Lawrence Eagle-Tribune.

Images via Manchester Police.