Two Arrested for Early Morning Armed Robbery in Downtown Concord

CONCORD, NH — Two homeless men were arrested this morning after an alleged knife robbery, threat, and assault incident in a downtown office building on the corner of North Main and Park streets, according to police. Justin D. Briggs, 25, a homeless man now located in Concord, was arrested on Aug. 29, 2016, and charged with second-degree assault and armed robbery, both felonies, as well as two counts of simple assault and three counts of criminal mischief. Also arrested was Eric M. Todd, 28, another homeless man, on armed robbery and felon in possession of a dangerous weapon, both felonies, and criminal threatening.

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

According to police, officers were sent to 4 Park St. for a report of a man who had been robbed at knifepoint by two male subjects including one that he knew. When officers arrived, they were given descriptions of the suspects by witnesses and told that they fled west on Park Street and then cut through an alley.

Officers then interviewed the victim who stated that he was inside his office when he heard a door open. He looked up from his desk and allegedly saw Todd – a man he knew – and a second man.

“The victim said that he approached Mr. Todd to greet him,” according to Lt. Timothy O’Malley, the commander of the criminal investigations unit for the Concord Police. “He said that Todd looked in poor health. At that point Todd told the victim to empty his pockets and turn over his wallet. The victim was fearful, however, (he) told the two to leave his office. At that point the victim alleges that Todd pulled out a large knife and pointed it at him.”

The victim was allegedly threatened again but refused to give up anything and retreated to his desk. Todd and the second man – later identified as Briggs – allegedly followed him to the desk. Todd allegedly continued to threaten the victim with a knife while Briggs reportedly grabbed a heavy glass statue and threw it at the victim’s head, according to O’Malley. The victim deflected the statue but it cut him in the hand, according to the report. Briggs found a ceramic egg on a bookshelf and allegedly threw it at the victim but it missed him.

“The victim retrieved the glass statute and began swinging it at the suspects and yelling at them to leave,” O’Malley reported. “The suspects then fled.”

Along with the items that were thrown a digital label printing machine belonging to the victim was also damaged in the attack, according to the report.

Police located Todd and Briggs on North State Street near Franklin a short time later and they were both arrested. Officers searched the immediate area of the arrest and reportedly found a knife that matched the description given by the victim.

After the arrest, Briggs allegedly began to flip out, spat at one officer and kicked another, according to O’Malley.

“Neither subject cooperated with the booking process,” O’Malley noted, with both refusing bail.

Both will be arraigned this afternoon in court.

According to reports on Patch and other media outlets, neither Briggs nor Todd are stranger to police.

Back in August 2011, Todd was arrested by police in Concord on a burglary charge. In February of this year, while out on parole, he reportedly was wanted for a violation and was the U.S. Marshals Fugitive of the Week. He was arrested by Boscawen Police in May while in the area of the Hannah Dustin Bridge. Todd was also charged after allegedly stealing from Hannaford. In 2005, he was arrested for theft, burglary, and assault, after an incident involving a relative’s handgun, according to a report in the Concord Monitor.

Briggs was arrested in September 2014 on a drug charge and later that year received a summons for a roadway violation after allegedly ranting at a cop when being asked not to walk in the middle of Rumford Street. Six months later, he was arrested on warrants for nonappearance in court on a drug charge. In December 2015, he was arrested on an assault charge and warrants after allegedly threatening people on North Main Street.

Editor’s Note: These are previous file photos of Todd and Briggs.