More Problems in Downtown Apartments

Concord Police were called to the apartment building next to the Vegas Block Apartments last week for a report of problems with unwanted guests.

According to arrest reports, at a little before 1 p.m. on Feb. 17, Russell J. Blodgett, 53, and Loretta A. Mearls, 49, were arrested and charged with criminal trespass.

The day before the arrests, on Feb. 16, officers were called to North Main Street for reports of unwanted guests.

The reporting officer stated that this was the second time that Mearls had allegedly been told that she was not welcome in the building, per the building’s owner. Mearls reportedly was escorted off the property and was warned again not to return or she would be arrested.

However, around the same time the next day, officers were called to the apartment again for a report of Mearls being in an apartment in the building.

Police alleged that when they went to the apartment, Mearls was “sitting on the floor holding a large beer” and was “extremely intoxicated.” The officers were presented with the no trespass order information and they arrested Mearls who “continued to yell, scream, threaten” one of the witnesses.

She refused bail and was arraigned on Feb. 19.

During the course of arresting Mearls, a witness alleged that Blodgett, another person in the apartment, did not belong there either and he too was arrested for criminal trespass.

Blodgett allegedly told police that he and Mearls went back to the apartment to retrieve their belongings from the apartment. He was released on $2,000 personal recognizance bail and is due in court on March 18.

The next day, Mearls was arrested again at 11:15 p.m. on a default or breach of bail conditions charge.

According to a report, officers were called to the cold weather shelter at First Congregational Church on North Main Street for a report on an intoxicated person.

A volunteer at the shelter had reportedly requested that the police come to take a person into protective custody. The volunteer had moved the woman, later identified as Mearls, to another room so she would not disturb others in the shelter.

The officers made contact with Mearls who was “noticeably impaired” and “unable to form sentences.” While in the room, Mearls reportedly fell back into a wall behind her bed and struck it, causing a cut to her head.

Concord Fire and Rescue teams were called in to assist and later, transported her to Concord Hospital.

During the processing of the situation, another officer at the scene realized that Mearls had just been bailed out the previous day. Part of the conditions of the bail was that she would not drink any alcohol. Mearls was later arrested and charged.

Mearls was refused bail and arraigned on Feb. 20.