Concord Robbery Suspects Slashed After Victim Turns on Perps: Cops

MANCHESTER, NH — Two robbery suspects from Concord with previous criminal histories were arrested early this morning after allegedly tried to rob a man – who then reportedly turned the tables on the perps, according to police. James Dickson, 36, pictured left, and Jonathan Vertigans, 32, both of Concord, were arrested on Aug. 13, 2016, and charged with robbery and falsifying physical evidence.

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

According to police, an officer was flagged down at just before 1 a.m. near Chestnut and Lowell streets for a report of a robbery incident. The man, 44, alleged that he had just been robbed by two men. The men were later identified as Dickson and Vertigans, according to Sgt. Richard Brennan of the Manchester Police Department.

“(The victim) alleged that, just moments earlier, Dickson and Vertigans fought him for his money, while the three of them were in the Victory Parking Garage at 25 Vine St.,” according to Brennan. “During the struggle, a knife was introduced, and (the victim) was able to wrestle it away, subsequently using it against Dickson and Vertigans. Despite his efforts to defend himself, Hathaway was ultimately rendered unconscious, but not before he inflicted knife wounds to both Dickson and Vertigans.”

The Manchester Information Facebook site posted pictures from the investigation scene.

Vertigans reportedly “suffered severe injuries” which resulted in “a trail of blood extending for over a block from the garage into nearby Victory Park,” where officers found him. He was then transported to the hospital. Both the victim and Dickson were also transported to the hospital with injuries.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Manchester Police Detective Unit at 603-792-5500 or Manchester Police Crimeline at 603-624-4040.

Previous arrests in Concord, other places

Both Dickson and Vertigans have been arrested a number of times in and out of Concord during the past few years, according to posts online.

Dickson was arrested on a sale of controlled drugs charge in September 2011, after an incident in November 2010 in Concord, according to a post on Patch. In December 2013, he was arrested on three counts of receiving stolen property for allegedly cashing stolen checks. He was also arrested on driving charges in Concord, according to Patch, and on a drug possession charge in Lawrence, MA, in August 2014, according to the Lawrence Eagle-Tribune.

Vertigans was arrested on a theft of lost or mislaid property charge in June of this year, according to Patch. He was also arrested in May for disorderly conduct after reportedly stumbling around in the middle of the street. In Manchester in 2015, he was arrested for felony theft by deception and resisting arrest after allegedly cashing checks on closed accounts, according to the New Hampshire Union Leader. In July 2014, in Derry, he was arrested for willful concealment, according to the Nutfield News.