Crime & Safety
Homeless Felon Accused Of Possessing Burglary Tools In Concord
Joseph Douglas Lawrence was also accused of loitering after being found near a dumpster at CVS on Hall Street while the store was closed.
CONCORD, NH — A man was arrested and held without bail earlier this month after being accused of being a felon in possession of burglary tools as well as loitering and prowling on Sept. 5.
Around 12:50 a.m., officers were sent to CVS on Hall Street for a report of an alarm activation at the prescription door. When they arrived, they found a man near the store's dumpster. The man "initially provided a false name when asked to identify himself," an affidavit said.
The officers were able to later properly identify him as Joseph Douglas Lawrence, 38, homeless.
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"Lawrence had bolt cutters and a hatchet (laying) on the ground next to him," the officer wrote. "Also next to Lawrence was a backpack full of tools."
When asked if he was armed, Lawrence said he was carrying a folding knife, the officer stated. He was patted down for weapons and in his front pocket, the officer reported finding a metallic file.
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When asked what he was doing at the dumpster, Lawrence stated he was "looking for cleaning materials to clean pine sap off of his hands," the affidavit said.
A check of Lawrence found a no bail violation of parole warrant, he was arrested on the charges, and held without bail.
Lawrence is a felon due to a second-degree assault and two robbery convictions out of Tilton from December 2006. A first-degree assault charge was nolle prossed. He spent about six years in prison, according to superior court records. In January 2016, Lawrence was convicted on a felony controlled drug: acts prohibited charge out of Belmont. He pleaded guilty to controlled drug: acts prohibited and false report to law enforcement in May 2017 after an incident in 2016 in Concord.
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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