Crashes, Arrests and Illegal Fireworks

Merrimack's police and fire departments saw a mostly normal atmosphere in town over the long holiday weekend.

Activity was very low on the fire department side of it, according to Fire Chief Michael Currier, who reported no fires related to Fourth of July celebrations. He noted a few traffic accidents and reports of illegal shooting of fireworks on private property as the highlights of the weekend.

Fireworks were ignited from a couple of parking lots in town, where a mess was left behind from the activity, Currier said. While many fireworks are legal for people to display from their own backyards, any firework activity on private property where it was not welcomed is illegal, he added.

While it's difficult to pursue an investigation into such incidents, Currier said it does cast a spotlight onto the legality of fireworks in the communities around the state.

"All it does is help to promote stricter regulations of firework usage in the state," Currier said, noting that businesses and private citizens may feel compelled to push for stronger limitations on the use of fireworks when their property has been trespassed on for illegal activity.

As for police activity over the weekend, three accidents involving motorcycles and a moped, were reported as well as five arrests made.

Arrests:

Kelly Monahan, 24, of 28 Swart St., Nashua, was charged with operating under the influence of alcohol and having an open container in her vehicle. Monahan was stopped on Whitney St. on July 4 around 1 a.m. after a local fast food chain alerted police that the occupants of a vehicle at the drive-through window appeared to be intoxicated, police say. 

After stopping Monahan's vehicle, an officer detected signs of impairment through conversation with her and placed her under arrest, police say. The remaining occupants of the car were placed in protective custody and all were transported to the police department. Monahan was released on $750 personal recognizance bail and order to appear in Merrimack District Court on Aug. 2.

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Kyle Finver, 20 of 25 E. Chamberlain Road, Apt. E, was charged with possession of marijuana, a class A misdemeanor, after police say they noticed signs of impairment while talking with him at the corner of McElwain and Woodbury streets just before the fireworks display on July 4.

Finver was discovered to have a small amount of marijuana in his possession police say and he was arrested and released on $2,000 personal recognizance bail. He is scheduled to appear in Merrimack District Court on July 12.

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Brian Digiacomo, 43, of 423 South Baboosic Lake Road, Merrimack, was arrested and charged with operating under the influence of liquor on July 2. 

Police responded to Turkey Hill in response to a report that a vehicle was traveling down the road with pieces of it falling off, police say.

When police arrived, they say thy found Digiacomo's vehicle disabled in the roadway near Cota Road with a flat tire with damage to the front fender that appeared to be caused by the damaged tire.

While speaking with Digiacomo, police noticed signs of impairment, the say. Digiacomo was arrested and released on $1,000 personal recognizance bail. He is scheduled to be in Merrimack District Court on July 19.

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Shawn Cadieux, 27, of 9 Nevada St., Apt. B, Nashua, was charged on July 2 with fraud for writing a bad check  to the town of Merrimack.
Cadieux was arrested by Nashua Police on a warrant out of Merrimack and officers here were called to pick him up, police say. 

An investigation into the fraudulent check had been ongoing since April, police say. Cadieux was placed on $1,000 personal recognizance bail and ordered to appear in Merrimack District Court on Aug. 1.

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A 16-year-old girl was charged with criminal mischief and attempted simple assault after police were called to a home for the report of an out of control female.

When police arrived, the scene was calm, police say, but the teenage girl was charged for damaging property in the residence and attempted simple assault of one of the people in the home. 

She was bailed and released to her mother, police say.

Accidents:

Police were called to three accidents involving motorcycles and a moped.

On July 2, police were called to 43 Back River Road for a report of a motorcycle that crashed into a granite post mailbox. 

Stanley Langer, 58, of 60 John Goffe Road, Bedford, lost control of his motorcycle, which was also carrying a passenger, Ellen Langer, 59, of the same address, police say.

Both were transported to Elliot Hospital in Manchester with non-life-threatening injuries and the bike received minor damage, police say.

The crash is under investigation.

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A 24-year-old operator of a moped was taken to St. Joseph Hospital for evaluation after she her bike went off the road near 6 McElwain St. 

The rider, Alicia Hieken, of 25 Baboosic Lake Road was wearing a helmet, but complained of injury following the crash police say. Police are investigating the accident.

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A 46-year-old New Ipswich man suffered minor injuries after his Harley-Davidson motorcycle crashed with a vehicle being driven by a 19-year-old Londonderry resident on June 30.

James Reith, of 66 Stowell Road, was exiting the Harley-Davidson shop on Continental Boulevard with a group of other riders and struck the right side of the vehicle being driven by Jessica Alack, of 24 Midridge Circle, Londonderry, police say.

Reith's bike dropped to the ground and he received minor injuries but declined transport to the hospital, police say.

The accident is being investigated.