Homeless Man From Oregon Accused Of Spitting On Concord Cop, Bartender

CONCORD, NH — A homeless man from Oregon was arrested on simple assault charges in late January after being accused of spitting on a bartender downtown and two police officers.

Around 1:15 a.m. on Jan. 27, officers were sent to The Draft at 67 S. Main St. for a report of a patron who was unruly and spat on a staffer. When police arrived, the staffer described the suspect — a white man in a baseball cap, carrying a large backpack, who left the area walking on North Main Street northbound, an affidavit said.

The reporting officer found a man “matching the description exactly” and recognized him as Randall Richardson, 47, formerly of Irving Street in Portland, Oregon, but now homeless in Concord.

“I am very familiar with Randall as he has been recently causing issues in the city since he arrived here from out West,” the officer wrote in an affidavit.

The officer said Richardson had arrived in Concord about a week before, had been “officially trespassed from four businesses in Concord,” and removed from or asked to leave “multiple others,” the report said.

The officer accused Richardson of being “extremely unsteady on his feet” and unable to speak “without slurring his words.” His eyes were bloodshot and glossy, and he gave off “an overwhelming odor” of alcohol, the report stated.

When asked about what happened at The Draft, Richardson “feigned ignorance.” The officer warned him they could look at the cameras at the bar and see if he spit on anyone, but Richardson denied spitting on anyone, the report said. The officer accused Richardson of becoming “standoffish,” and he was cuffed and taken into protective custody.

“Randall became verbally confrontational,” the officer wrote, “and began yelling once he was placed in handcuffs. He began screaming, ‘f------’ at the top of his lungs while being patted down and placed in the cruiser. He also threatened to ‘burn my family till they were dead.’”

Richardson was taken to Concord Hospital and “maintained his vulgar tone,” the report said, while also threatening to spit on the officers. He was warned not to do that, but after being removed from the cruiser, Richardson “turned and projectile spit at me,” hitting the officer’s face and lip. He was pressed against the cruiser so he could not spit any longer while a second officer retrieved a spit hood, which was placed over Richardson’s head, the affidavit stated. Richardson was accused of attempting to spit at the second officer twice through the spit hood but was unsuccessful, the report said.

While being restrained, Richardson was accused of yelling, saying, “Ima get my n----- on you.” The officer put Richardson back into the cruiser and placed him under arrest.

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