Concord Woman Accused Of Shooting At Cops During Welfare Check Call; Held On Charges

HENNIKER, NH — A woman from Concord was arrested last month and held without bail after being accused of firing a gun at Henniker police officers during a welfare check call.

Erica Kowalski, 48, of Hampshire Drive in Concord, was arrested on May 30, 2025, on reckless conduct-deadly weapon and criminal threatening-deadly weapon, both felonies, as well as negligent discharge-gun, bow, etc., simple assault, two resisting arrest or detention, and two breach of bail charges.

Limited information is available about the case, but according to court documents and scanner chatter, a person received a photo of Kowalski with a firearm, which raised concerns, and they called Henniker police. A lieutenant and three officers were sent to Browns Way around 7:30 p.m. on May 30 for a welfare check on the woman. Police attempted to capture her, but she fled via a trail along railroad tracks near the property, according to scanner chatter.

During the incident, Kowalski was accused of threatening the officers with a Smith & Wesson 9 mm and later, firing the gun at the officers, who were near her. The officers attempted to get her to drop the gun and get on the ground, but she refused, according to a court complaint.

Editor's note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Merrimack County Superior Court and does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the process for requesting the removal of a name from New Hampshire Patch police reports.

Around 8:15 p.m., Henniker fire and rescue teams were called to the scene and requested to stage for police relative to “a psych problem.”

Hillsboro police officers also arrived to assist and Merrimack County Sheriff’s deputies were also requested.

Just past 8:30 p.m., Kowalski was captured, but vehicles had difficulty getting to the police due to the wooded area where they were located. Officers then brought her to the Henniker fire and rescue teams to be checked.

Police accused Kowalski of pulling her arms away while officers were attempting to secure her in handcuffs. After taking control of her, she was accused of kicking an officer in the leg while they were trying to secure Kowalski in a police cruiser. She was out on bail at the time of the incident, having been released in early February.

Kowalski was given a public defender and arraigned by video from the county jail in Hillsborough District Court on June 2 and held on preventative detention.

The case was boundover to Merrimack County Superior Court on June 11. After the probable cause hearing, Judge Erin McIntyre advised the defense and prosecution she would not consider modifying bail without a “developed plan to address the defendant’s mental health,” according to a document.

On June 17, Kowalski’s attorney motioned to seal the motion to amend bail, which Judge Daniel St. Hilaire granted.

Kowalski is back in court on Aug. 27 for a dispositional conference hearing.

According to court records, Kowalski has been arrested or charged with crimes 12 times since 2013. She had three motor vehicle violations in 2009.

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