Police: City Heroin Use On Rise

Portsmouth Police arrested one city man and are looking for seven other alleged drug dealers after conducting a sweep this morning.

Portsmouth Police Capt. Corey MacDonald said Jessie Floyd, 19, of 464 Middle St., Apt. 5 was arrested today at 9:30 a.m. and charged with two counts of conspiracy to sell Marijuana and Hashish.  He said Floyd was released on $5,000 personal recognizance bail and will be arraigned in Portsmouth District Court on Dec. 5.

Police also tried to execute arrest warrants for two other suspects, according to MacDonald.

Douglas Lara, 38, a Portsmouth man with a last known address in Gosling Meadows, is wanted for a felony of sale of cocaine and police say he should be considered armed and dangerous.

Bryan Kuhn, 29, of 40 Chauncey St. in Portsmouth is wanted for the felony sale of Suboxone, a narcotic drug, according to police.

MacDonald explained the police press release that drug investigations remain on-going throughout Portsmouth. 

"Police have noticed an apparent surge in Heroin usage in Portsmouth, as well as a surge in property crimes to include thefts from vehicles, homes and businesses. Suboxone is a narcotic prescription drug that is reported to have a similar effect as Oxycontin and other strong pain killers," MacDonald wrote in the press release.

Suboxone is often prescribed to Heroin addicts to wean them off of Heroin.  Suboxone, like Oxycontin is often sold illegally on the street, MacDonald said.

Portsmouth Police are currently searching for five other drug sales suspects:

• Eliott Bell, 23, last known address of 26 McDaniel Shore Drive, Barrington, is wanted for felony sale of heroin;
• Michael T. Perry, 29, last known address of 3 Marion Road in Raymond is wanted for two counts of felony sale of Suboxone, a narcotic drug;
• Dustin Lemelin, 23, of 1980 Village Road in Madison is wanted for two felony counts for sale of cocaine; 
• Jonathan Creed, 19, last known address of 520 Sherwood Glen Somersworth, is wanted for two felony counts of sale of marijuana;
• Brittani Hope, 21, last known location believed to be in Portland, Maine, or possibly Florida, is wanted for defaulting on two felony counts of sale of marijuana.

Police are asking the public to report any information they have about these individuals to their local law enforcement agency or the Portsmouth Police Department Detective Division (603)436-2511 or remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 431-1199 or 207-439-1199, or on the website www.seacoastcrimestoppers.org.