Allegations Of Date Rape Drug Surface In Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH, NH — Police say they are investigating an allegation that someone was given a "date rape drug" in a downtown tavern this week. At a press conference Wednesday night, police said the allegation is not related to the case of the man who has been missing for the past three weeks after last being seen in downtown Portsmouth.

Police Chief Robert Merner said Wednesday that a man reported being with his girlfriend at Clipper Tavern early on Sunday when he was possibly drugged, though he did not report the incident to police until Tuesday, according to the Portsmouth Herald. The man did not test positive for drugs, but some "date rape drugs" are not detectable after six to eight hours, the newspaper said.

Police said that due to rumors on social media, officers wanted to make clear that although the investigation remains ongoing, police do not believe the reported drugging incident is related to the disappearance of Adam Camarato, who was last seen leaving Clipper Tavern early April 27. Surveillance cameras show Camarato walking north on State Street toward Maine around 1:17 a.m. that day, said Merner, who said he believes Clipper Tavern is not connected with the disappearance and so far there is no evidence anyone was drugged there.