Nashua Man Arrested On Arson, Criminal Threatening Charges, After Fire On Barnsdale Road: Update

Update: 3:24 p.m. on Sept. 22: Derrick Couture, 39, was arrested on Tuesday afternoon on felony arson, criminal threatening, criminal trespass, and resisting arrest or detention charges.

Nashua police were called back to the fire scene this afternoon after receiving a report that Couture was in the area. Officers located him, but he was accused of fleeing the area. Officers caught him and placed him under arrest, according to Sgt. John Cinelli, the public information officer and communications division supervisor for the Nashua Police Department.

Couture was held on preventive detention and will be arraigned in Nashua District Court on Wednesday.

Anyone with information regarding the case was asked to contact the Nashua Police Department Crime Line at 603-589-1665.

The original story is below...

NASHUA, NH — Police in Nashua are asking for the public’s help in locating an arson and threat suspect after a fire on Barnsdale Road on Monday.

Derrick Couture, 39, is wanted on arson and criminal threatening warrants after a fire at the home.

Limited information has been released, but according to Sgt. John Cinelli, the public information officer and communications division supervisor for the Nashua Police Department, his whereabouts were “unknown at this time,” but a vehicle he was believed to be driving was found in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts.

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“Couture was last seen wearing an all-gray sweatsuit,” Cinelli said.

Editor’s note: This post was derived from information provided by the Nashua and Tyngsborough police departments and the Nashua Fire Department and does not constitute a conviction. This link explains how to request the removal of a name from New Hampshire Patch police reports.

Anyone who knows where Couture is located or has information about the case should call police immediately at 603-589-1665, he said.

“Members of the public are urged to use caution and should not approach or attempt to make contact with Couture,” Cinelli said.

Barnsdale Road House Fire

According to Deputy Chief Nathan Armstrong of the Nashua Fire Department, fire rescue was sent to the home around 2:15 p.m.

The first arriving EMS confirmed smoke showing from the single-story home. Ladder 3 firefighters arrived, gained forced entry to the home, and searched for anyone inside while Engine 4 firefighters began attacking the fire through the front door.

“No occupants were home at the time of the fire,” he said.

The fire was located in the walkout basement and extinguished. Extensive damage was reported throughout the home, a report said.

There were no injuries and the fire is still under investigation by the Nashua Fire Marshal’s Office.

Tyngsborough Connection

Chief Shaun Woods of the Tyngsborough Police Department issued a statement on Monday night confirming the department was searching for Couture after an arson investigation in Nashua.

Woods said the suspect was believed to be in their town and had traveled there after the incident. He warned Couture “may pose a danger to himself or others” and urged residents to call 911 if they saw him or had information about the case.

Woods said the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council SWAT Team had been activated to assist Nashua and Tyngsborough police.

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