Thrown Coffee, Strangulation Lead To Concord Father, Son Being Arrested In The North End

CONCORD, NH — Two men were arrested on assault charges last month on Maple Street after a bit of small talk by a father led to thrown coffee by a son and a counterattack by the father, according to police.

Scott Spern, 61, of Maple Street in Concord, was arrested at 11 a.m. on May 17 on second-degree assault and second-degree assault-domestic violence-strangulation charges, both felonies, as well as simple assault and domestic violence-simple assault charges. At 12:47 p.m., Eli Spern, 31, also of Maple Street, was arrested on simple assault and domestic violence-simple assault charges.

Just after 10:45 a.m., an officer was requested by dispatch to come to police headquarters to take a domestic violence incident report being issued by a father, Scott Spern, against his son, according to an affidavit. A few minutes later, dispatch sent officers to Maple Street to check on Eli Spern, who was reportedly still at the home.

During an interview with the officer at headquarters, Scott Spern accused his son of throwing coffee at him. The officer also wrote he was afraid to be in his home while his son was there. The report stated the father was in his living room and saw his son grabbing an air conditioner from the father’s vehicle in the driveway. He then brought the air conditioner into the home. Scott Spern said to his son, “Hey, is that air conditioner heavy?,” and then his son got upset, the report stated.

“Scott told me Eli said something to the effect of ‘You don’t have the right to talk to me,’” the officer wrote. “Scott told me he was still trying to initiate small talk with Eli while he was sitting in his recliner chair in the living room. Scott told me Eli got angry and grabbed the cup of coffee that was on the side table on the left side of Scott’s recliner chair and threw the contents onto Scott’s shirt.”

The officer said the man’s shirt was “completely soaked from a liquid substance,” confirmed later as coffee.

Editor's note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Concord Police Department and does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the process for requesting the removal of a name from New Hampshire Patch police reports.

When asked if the coffee mug was thrown at him, Scott Spern said, No, according to the officer.

Angry at the thrown coffee, Scott Spern admitted to grabbing his son, turning him around, facing away from the kitchen, and putting Eli in a choke hold, an affidavit stated. He then began striking him in the back, the report said. After letting go of Eli Spern, he went upstairs to use the phone, but it was disconnected, the officer wrote. So, he put on his shoes and drove to police headquarters to report the incident. At the same time, “Eli began yelling out of the first-story window, making remarks to the effect of, ‘They are going to find out who you are,’” an affidavit said.

When police arrived at the home, they found Eli Spern’s vehicle still there. Around 11:15 a.m., police reported everything was “under control” at the house, according to scanner chatter. An officer reportedly spoke to two witnesses as well who did not see the thrown coffee part of the incident but did see Scott Spern assaulting Eli Spern, the officer wrote. One witness reportedly began striking Scott Spern in the back with “a flower decoration object” so he would let go of his son.

One witness stated Eli Spern said, “I can’t breathe, help, help, help,” the report stated.

Just before 11:30 a.m., several phone calls were made between police officers on Maple Street and headquarters and both men were arrested.

Eli Spern was released on personal recognizance on May 19. He was arraigned on May 20 in Concord District Court and requested a lawyer, which Judge David Burns approved. A trial date has been set for Sept. 11.

Scott Spern was also arraigned on May 19. He requested a lawyer and a criminal protective order was also issued. Scott Spern offered no pleas to the felony charges but pleaded not guilty to the other misdemeanor assault charges. A probable cause hearing is scheduled for June 17 in Concord District Court.

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