Report: Homeless Man Rants About City Cutting Down 'His Camp'

A homeless man now located in Concord who was once arrested for murder in Oklahoma received what appears to be his 25th charge by the city of Concord Police Department last month.

Shelby E. Weston, 49, a homeless man now located in Concord, received a summons at 2:27 p.m. on Oct. 8, 2015, for consumption of liquor on private property.

Editor’s note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Concord Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. Click this link to find out how to get a name removed from a New Hampshire Patch police report.

Two officers patrolling Higgins Street last month saw a group of homeless people on what appeared to be U-Haul’s property. One, Weston, was allegedly consuming a 25-ounce can of Natty Daddy.

When the officers approached the scene, Weston allegedly hid the beer behind his back. The officer questioned him about the beer and Weston allegedly “became argumentative claiming he was not bothering anyone and he should be able to drink wherever he wants because he is homeless,” according to the report.

“I informed Weston there are ordinances in place in regards to alcohol consumption within the city of Concord,” the officer stated. “I told him the ordinances apply to everyone regardless of their situation or status.”

Weston allegedly continued to complain that the city had cut down the trees where his camp had been located (the city cleared out the area recently preparing for a future connection between Commercial Street by The Friendly Kitchen and upper Storrs Street, a plan that has been in the works since the city began acquiring parcels in the area before the soup kitchen was constructed). Weston was informed that the property belonged to the city – not him – and the city could do what it wanted, according to the report.

The officer then went to speak with the manager of U-Haul who confirmed that the property belonged to the moving and storage company, that Weston didn’t have permission to be on the property, and that he didn’t have permission to be drinking on the property. The manager “pointed out the large piles of trash that was scattered behind the back wall of the building and said he didn’t want it anymore,” according to the report.

Weston was issued a summons and is due in court on Nov. 23.

According to reports submitted to Concord NH Patch, this appears to be the 25th time that Weston has been summoned – a non-custody arrest – or arrested during the last four-plus years. The charges have ranged from public drinking, panhandling, criminal trespass, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, bail jumping, default or breach of bail conditions, and numerous warrants for not showing up to court appearances.

Six and a half years ago, both Weston and Leon Vantrees, another homeless man, were arrested for the kicking death of Kevin Russ Woodruff, another homeless man then located in the Tulsa, OK, area.

According to press reports at the time, Weston and Vantrees were accused of murdering the man inside of a vacant duplex apartment. Woodruff’s body was later dumped outside and both Weston and Vantrees reportedly had his blood on their shoes. The charges were dropped a few months later after a witness died and another disappeared. Prosecutors reported at the time that charges could be refilled against the pair if more evidence developed in the case.