Nashua Hotel Robbery Suspect Arrested After Manchester SWAT Standoff

NASHUA, NH — A Nashua hotel robbery suspect from February was arrested after a standoff with police in Manchester on Wednesday.

Elias Dawley, 28, of Colonial Drive in Greenville, was accused of threatening a man with a gun on West Hancock Street in Manchester. SWAT officers used a robot and drone to find him after he was holed up inside the home.

Dawley was out on parole after being in prison on robbery stints from 2013 out of Chesterfield and 2014 out of Greenfield.

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After his arrest, police in the Queen City handed Dawley over to Gate City police who charged him with felony robbery.

Detectives accused him of presenting a threatening note to a front desk clerk at the Double Tree by Hilton and demanding money on Feb. 17, Sgt. Robert Goodwin, of the department’s criminal investigation division, said. The suspect then left the hotel with around $800.

“No injuries were reported,” he said.

During the course of the investigation, Melody Haggerty, Dawley’s gal pal, and a former employee at the hotel, was eyed as an accomplice suspect. During the course of the next week, detectives were able to connect evidence collected from Dawley and Haggerty to the hotel robbery, according to an affidavit.

Nashua police had an active warrant for Dawley for five months before the incident in Manchester, which led to his capture.

Dawley refused bail and was arraigned in Hillsborough County Superior Court South on Thursday. He was held on preventive detention. Dawley faces seven years in prison as well as fines if convicted.

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