Strafford Fugitive Arrested In Nashua; Expected To Face New Charges: U.S. Marshals

CONCORD, NH — Nashua police arrested a New Hampshire fugitive in December after receiving a tip from a Gate City resident.

Grant William Ohlson, 43, was featured in late October 2022. He was wanted for failure to appear at the arraignment of a fentanyl smuggling case. Ohlson was accused of attempting to bring the drug into the Strafford County Jail. He was also wanted on active warrants for theft, probation violations, and criminal trespass.

Ohlson was found by police on Dec. 22 and arrested in the area of East Hollis and Allds streets after receiving a tip about the case, Andrew Grillo, a deputy marshal, said.

“Despite strong ties throughout Strafford County, Ohlson found his way to Nashua, where he was able to lay low for almost two months,” he said. “Ultimately, a diligent observer was able to aid police in capturing an individual whose lengthy criminal history and violent tendencies are now one less thing the community needs worry about.”

Along with the warrants and nonappearance allegation, the Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office is expected to issue more felony charges against him. Grillo said the arrest “yielded evidence of additional criminal behavior.” He also thanked the Nashua police for being able to respond quickly to the tip, which led to Ohlson being taken off the streets.

“The Fugitive of the Week program is meant to empower all aspects of the community,” Grillo said, “and here is an example of an empowered citizen using the most reactive law enforcement entity available to them to bring a consequential case to its safe and effective resolution.”

According to superior court records, Ohlson’s criminal history dates back to at least 2000.

He was accused of two counts of attempted escape in July 2000 in Exeter. He pleaded guilty to one of the counts in November 2001. His sentence was amended in April 2003.

In Hampton in July 2013, he was arrested on a disorderly conduct charge after an incident at a motel.

In August 2017, he was accused of theft by unauthorized taking, simple assault, and animal cruelty after an incident in Rochester.

A month later, he was charged with burglary, contempt, possession of a controlled drug-subsequent, attempted cocaine sale, theft by unauthorized taking, and two counts of receiving stolen property counts after two incidents in Somersworth. The theft and stolen property charges were felonies due to two prior convictions.

In March 2018, the cruelty charge was dropped, but he pleaded guilty to the other two charges. Ohlson also pleaded guilty to the attempted cocaine charge. The burglary, felony theft, and contempt charges were also dismissed.

Between 2020 and this year, Ohlson was involved in a dozen cases.

In March 2020, he was charged with possession of cocaine-subsequent and two possession of a controlled drug-subsequent charges in Somersworth. In June 2021, Ohlson was charged with felon in possession of a dangerous weapon in Somersworth and a drug sales charge in Dover. A month later, he was arrested on five more drug charges in Somersworth. In August 2021, he was accused of stalking, receiving stolen property, and drug possession in Rochester. A month later, he was charged with burglary in Rochester.

In March, he was accused of delivery of weapon, contraband in Dover, and drug possession in Somersworth. In June, he was accused of two theft charges and contempt in Somersworth and criminal trespass in Rochester.

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