Fugitive Caught Trying To Flee Through The Woods Of New Hampton

CONCORD, NH — After several sightings around the Lakes Region led to tips from the public, this week’s New Hampshire Fugitive of the Week has been apprehended. According to Jeffrey White of the U.S. Marshals Service, the Joint Task Force were able to use tips to search and track down Thomas Drake, 27, today. He was hiding out at a relative’s house on Route 132 in New Hampton.

“Upon arrival at this residence, officers immediately observed Drake as he fled into the woods,” White stated. “A search was conducted utilizing a Bristol Police Department K-9 Arrow and his handler. The K-9 search caused Drake to flee further, but was captured by members of task force on the other side of the wood line.”

White noted that the arrest of Drake was a cooperative effort of numerous law enforcement agencies including members of the Joint Fugitive Task Force from the Belknap, Strafford and Rockingham county sheriffs offices, the Greenfield Police Department, deputy U.S. Marshals, along with officers from the Bristol, Alexandria, Danbury and the New Hampton police departments that assisted in tracking down Drake.

Drake was turned over to the Bristol Police Department for processing on his outstanding arrest warrant and he will be held at the Grafton County Jail pending his initial court appearance at a later date.

Drake was arrested in February 2018, by New Hampshire State Police for possession of a controlled drug-heroin/crack and resisting arrest or detention on River Road in Bridgewater, according to a report on Patch. Back in March 2015, he was arrested for being a felon in possession of a deadly weapon – a knife and brass knuckles – and heroin possession after a visit by his parole officer, the Laconia Daily Sun noted. The newspaper stated that Drake was convicted of simple assault, witness tampering, criminal threatening, and criminal mischief in 2011.

Nearly 7,500 arrests have been issued since the creation of the Joint Fugitive Task Force in 2002.

Editor's note: This post was derived from info supplied by the U.S. Marshals Service. It does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the name removal request process for New Hampshire’s Patch police reports.