Concord Police Warrant Check Leads To Chase Around Merrimack River

CONCORD, NH — Concord police were again in Healy Memorial Park on Thursday and spent about 30 minutes capturing a known felon with several active warrants.

Around 2:30 p.m., an officer in the park requested police dispatch run a warrant check on Kevin Gobeil, a homeless felon who they saw in the park. Dispatch confirmed at least two warrants out of Belknap and Merrimack counties and began working to verify them. A few minutes later, as the officer approached him, Gobeil took off, according to scanner chatter.

“We got Kevin Gobeil running on foot, heading toward Manchester Street from the park,” the officer said. “Can you try and catch up to him?”

More officers were sent to the area while the officer in the park gave chase, informing others what the suspect was wearing and where he was.

A few minutes later, the initial officer reported Gobeil was now on the ice of the Merrimack River not far from the park. One officer also reported he needed to be questioned since he may have been a witness to the recent park shooting case last week, according to scanner chatter. A second officer spotted him from Terrill Park, walking in the middle of the river.

One officer suggested all the other officers wait for him to exit the river since they did not know how thick the ice was. In some places near the park, there was no ice.

Officers blocked off the northbound onramp at Exit 13, and New Hampshire State Police troopers also began responding to the call.

One officer thought he might be heading toward Basin Street, but another officer spotted him walking north on the river near Healy Park. The suspect then got off the ice and onto the trail, heading toward Exit 14.

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

As officers converged on the area, a watch commander asked if there were charges other than resisting arrest and the warrants. They also told officers not to go onto the river, and they were not to drive him onto the ice either.

One state trooper brought a K-9 unit and began to search the area. Other officers went to the east side of the river in case Gobeil crossed.

Dispatch also confirmed the warrants.

Healy Park Crime & Chaos

• Concord Homeless Camp Shooting ‘Person Of Interest’ Held Without Bail
• Concord Cops Accuse Homeless Felon Of Gun, Drug Possession After Concord Park Shooting
• Concord Police Say Healy Park Incident Was A Shooting: Follow-Up
• Man Attacked At Homeless Camp In Concord’s Healy Memorial Park
• Concord Firefighters Extinguish Homeless Camp Fire In Healy Park
• ‘Wet Wood’ Causes Smoke Condition Inside Building In Homeless Camp At Concord’s Healy Park
• Dead Bodies Reported Inside A Concord Homeless Camp Tent Deemed A Mistake And False Call
• Concord Firefighters Rescue Homeless Campers Trapped By Rising River
• Arrest Imminent In 2nd Homeless Camp BB Gun Shooting: Updates On Concord Criminal Cases
• Another BB Gun Shooting Reported At Concord Homeless Camp: Watch
• Concord Police Investigating Machete Assault Incident At Homeless Camp
• Concord Police Department Offers Updates On Recent Cases: Follow-Ups
• Woman Accused Of Shooting Man With BB Gun At Homeless Camp In Concord Park: Follow-Up
• BB Gun Shooting At Homeless Camp Sends Man To Concord Hospital: Watch
• Concord Fire Extinguishes Homeless Camp Fire Along I-93: Video

Around 2:45 p.m., state police were requested to bring their drone unit to search the area, too.

Not long after the request, an officer said Gobeil had crossed the river and was now on the east side, making his way toward the Merrimack River Greenway Trail. Officers then headed to 6 Loudon Road north of the trail and the transfer station on Old Turnpike Road south, while state police began setting up their drone launch from the trail.

At 3 p.m., officers on Old Turnpike Road “made eyes on him” and visually tracked the suspect as he attempted to climb up the side of the hill.

“He’s coming toward the top of the hill, tripping over himself,” one officer said.

According to scanner chatter, officers stationed at Terrill Park as the suspect ran up the hill toward them.

Just after 3 p.m., police Gobeil was in custody and brought out of the woods. At the top of the hill, near the parking lot, officers searched the suspect and asked him if he was OK since there was some concern he may have been exposed to the freezing water of the Merrimack while fleeing.

Officers could be seen confiscating items from Gobeil and putting them in baggies while he was held down in the snow. He was brought to police headquarters for processing.

According to superior court records, one warrant involved a second violation of probation or parole charge connected to a felony drug conviction out of Gilmanton from November 2022. He received a 12-month sentence, all but 30 days suspended for two years, in July 2023. A $434 fine was also suspended for two years. In January 2024, he was found guilty of probation violation and was given a 12-month sentence with six months deferred. The warrant was issued for the second parole violation charge in October 2024.

Gobeil also had an active warrant from October 2024 on a second violation of probation or parole charge after being convicted in September 2023 on a felony receiving stolen property-$1,501-plus charge out of Concord. In that case, Gobeil received a 12-month suspended sentence with 59 days of time served credit. He was also placed on probation for two years. Gobeil violated probation on that charge in March 2014 and was given a 12-month sentence, suspended for a year.

Gobeil has a lengthy criminal history, having been arrested dozens of times in the capital region and Lakes Region during the past decade. He has been arrested on felon in possession of a dangerous weapon-machete, drug possession, theft, receiving stolen property, criminal trespass, resisting arrest, forgery, driving after revocation or suspension, parole violations, many warrants, and other charges. Gobeil was also previously arrested in Sanford, Maine, on a theft charge. He is a felon due to a burglary conviction out of Laconia in June 2016.

Concord NH Patch will update this post when more information becomes available.

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