Man Racks Up Inhaling Toxic Vapors, Felon with a Weapon, Other Charges

CONCORD, NH – A local man, with a long arrest history and a burglary conviction from 2004, is facing even more charges after a series of arrests around the city during April and May, according to arrest reports and court documents.

Joshua M. Davis, 34, a homeless man now located in Concord, was arrested on April 11, 2016, for criminal trespass, inhaling toxic vapors for effect, and default or breach of bail conditions. He was arrested again on May 20, for felony theft by unauthorized taking or transfer. Davis was also arrested on May 23, and charged with felon in possession of a dangerous weapons and criminal threatening, both felonies, as well as criminal mischief and default or breach of bail conditions.

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

In mid-April, officers were sent to the Ford Eddy Road Plaza for a report of a man huffing chemicals near Shaw’s Supermarket. The reporting officer noted that he had been there the day before for a similar complaint allegedly involving Davis.

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“Upon my arrival in the parking lot I observed Davis who was unsteady on his feet,” the officer alleged. “Upon making contact with him, I observed a can of computer keyboard duster which I know is inhaled for effect.”

When asked if he was huffing again, Davis allegedly replied, “Yes.”

The officer knew that Davis was trespassed from Staples but he reportedly denied being in the store. The officer then went to Staples to eye security video and while there, spoke with the witnesses who called 911 after allegedly seeing Davis huffing and then collapsing outside. The officer went back to question Davis about whether or not he had been drinking and he allegedly admitted to having a beer. Davis reportedly agreed to a breathalyzer, blew 0.268, and was arrested for huffing.

Another officer came to Staples to eye the video and reportedly saw Davis in the store for about two minutes, so a criminal trespass charge was added. The reporting officer learned during processing that Davis was out on $500 cash bail on March 29, after being arrested for criminal mischief and disorderly conduct, so a breach charge was added.

“Davis was volatile and uncooperative throughout my interaction with him,” the officer noted.

Theft charge

About a month later, on May 14, Davis was allegedly involved in a theft incident at the Storrs Street Market Basket. Since he had previous convictions, the incident was elevated to a felony and a warrant issued (details about the theft were unavailable at post time). Davis was arrested on May 20, for the crime, after police found him near the railroad tracks behind the store and ran a check on him. He was given a June 27, court date, according to the arrest report.

Alleged knife threat

Three days after that, numerous officers were sent to Thorndike Street for a report of a fight involving a knife. Dispatch later told officers that Davis allegedly had the knife during the fight, according to a court report.

En route, the reporting officer ran into Davis on Laurel Street with a woman and he appeared “upset” and was yelling.

“I could not tell what he was saying and I observed him waving his arms around,” the officer alleged.

The officer pulled up on one side of Davis while a sergeant swung her cruiser around to Davis from Pierce Street. As they approach him, they reportedly told him to kneel but he allegedly began arguing.

“I ordered Davis again to kneel on the ground,” the officer alleged. “Davis continued to argue with me and began walking towards me. I pulled my sidearm from my holster and ordered Davis to the ground. Davis took the backpack off his back, placed it on the ground, and knelt on the sidewalk. I holstered my weapon (and) approached Davis placing him into handcuffs.”

Davis protested being cuffed, according to the report, saying he did nothing and continued to yell. They patted him down and allegedly found a folding knife in the open position and an unused needle in this pants pocket, according to the report. Davis allegedly continued to yell about why he was being detained. The officer told him that it was about the incident on Thorndike Street and asked what it was about.

“Davis looked at me and replied, ‘Just a drug deal that went bad,’” the officer reported. “I asked Davis what he was there for. Davis replied, ‘Just my $20 bucks worth.’”

Another officer from Thorndike Street reported that Davis had allegedly kicked and damaged a door of a home there so he was arrested for criminal mischief and the weapons charge.

According to the report, five witnesses were interviewed about the incident. Three stated that they were in their home when they saw a man “aggressively pushing” a woman in the street. One of them yelled down to the man to leave the woman alone. The man – Davis – allegedly began yelling at the window, “flipped open his knife,” and showed it to them, while taunting them to fight, according to the court affidavit.

“I’m going to shank you,” Davis allegedly stated while walking toward the house.

Two other witnesses – neighbors to the people from the window – alleged that Davis showed up at their apartment, was being “mean,” and was asked him to leave. Davis left but reportedly returned and began kicking the door, according to the report. Davis was arrested and held without bail.

During the last five years, Davis has been arrested on numerous charges in Concord including criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, criminal trespass, simple assault, resisting, public disposal of human waste, possession of alcohol on public property, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, and break of bail.