Alton Man Arrested On Stolen Car, Drug, Weapon Charges In Concord

CONCORD, NH — A man with a slew of prior charges is in more trouble with police after being arrested on felony charges after a multi-month investigation into an abandoned stolen car incident in the North End.

Around 10 a.m. on July 31, 2021, police were alerted to a number of reports including a person passed out inside a white Volvo sedan in the area of Rumford and Walker streets. The driver later fled the area.

An officer spoke to two witnesses who said there was a man in the driver’s seat who was passed out while the car’s engine was running. One witness, a woman, told the officer she reached inside the vehicle, shut the engine off, and took the keys out. The man and woman, who did not know each other, began arguing and the man took off toward Penacook Street.

The second witness, a man, followed the driver into the backyard of a number of homes where he appeared to enter one of the houses. The officer took a description of the man — short and bald, and the clothing he was wearing.

The officer also spoke to a third witness, who lived on Rumford Street, and claimed the car earlier had swerved and almost drove into a sidewalk. Later, the third witness saw the other two yelling at the man near the car.

A fourth witness reported a man running through her backyard during the incident and gave the same description as the others, the report said.

The officer looked inside of the car and attempted to get a hold of its owner, a man in his late 20s, but was unable to. The officer reported seeing multiple needles in the driver’s side door and a spoon with what was believed to be heroin residue.

Later, the vehicle’s owner showed up and was questioned by police. The owner gave written consent to search the vehicle, saying nothing inside it belonged to him. He said he did not know who had his vehicle earlier or that it was even gone until one of his friends saw it parked in the North End and police looking at the car. The owner said the only key to the vehicle was at his apartment and the car had to have been stolen. He said he had a new roommate, a woman, but did not believe she was involved.

An inventory of the vehicle included a black bag with various drugs inside, a plastic bag with about 10 grams of fentanyl, a plastic bag with methamphetamine, a folding knife and brass knuckles inside a backpack, a pair of sneakers, and a sweatshirt, according to an affidavit.

About 12 hours later, two officers were speaking about the case and one mentioned that Lewis Jenna, 41, of Coffin Brook Road in Alton was previously connected to the owner of the car and matched the description of the man given by the witnesses.

Two of the officers then went to visit with Jenna and the new roommate of the owner of the car.

Jenna denied having any knowledge of who operated the car, according to an affidavit. In the past, the officer said, Jenna and the woman had used the vehicle before. When asked about the last time he used it, Jenna said it was the evening prior, after meeting with police in Manchester who questioned him and other “potential witnesses regarding a shooting that occurred in the city,” the report stated. When asked where he was at the time the car was found, Jenna said he was shopping with the woman at Marshalls on Storrs Street, the report stated.

Jenna told police the only thing in the car that was his were the sneakers and then, gave a description of them, the affidavit stated.

Another officer questioned the woman. She, however, broke down about personal issues and admitted to getting into an argument with Jenna about his “lifestyle choices.” She accused Jenna of taking off in the Volvo and abandoning it later. Later, she said, Jenna requested her to meet him at Marshall’s where he was shopping for clothes.

“This appears to be an effort by Lewis to change his description from the earlier incident,” the officer wrote.

The reporting officer also stated Jenna’s license was suspended.

In November 2021, a warrant was issued for Jenna’s arrest for receiving stolen property-$1,501+, unauthorized use of a vehicle-$1,501+, possession of fentanyl, and possession of methamphetamine, all felonies, as well as carrying or selling weapons, driving after revocation or suspension, and abandoning a vehicle charges as well as a warrant. He was arrested on Dec. 18, 2021.

During the past six years, Jenna has been arrested and indicted on a dozen charges including felony habitual offender, self-defense weapon; possession by a felon, felony drug possession, felony receiving stolen property, felony assault by prisoners, felony motor vehicle; penalties; failure to appear, disorderly conduct, and warrants.

Editor's note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Concord Police Department and does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the removal request process for New Hampshire Patch police reports.

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