Portsmouth Police: Massachusetts Man Held Knife to Woman's Throat

Portsmouth Police have arrested a Massachusetts man after he allegedly threatened and assaulted a local woman.

Mark Rodrick, 20, of Pine Street in Leicester, MA, was arrested on Nov. 25, and charged with kidnapping, criminal threatening, second-degree assault, criminal restraint, reckless conduct, and witness tampering, all felonies. He was also charged with simple assault.

According to a report, police received a call from a woman at around 11:10 a.m. reporting that her friend had just been assaulted and held against her will with a knife. Officers were able to locate the victim and her friend and brought them to police headquarters. After speaking with them and investigating the matter, a warrant was taken out for Rodrick.

“The victim reported the suspect had accused her of stealing money from him and he threatened to kill her while holding a knife to her throat,” according to Lt. Mark Newport of the detective division.

Rodrick was arrested by the Leicester Police Department where he is being held without bail.

According to Newport, Rodrick allegedly “confined the victim under his control with the purpose to hold her hostage by holding a knife to her throat while threatening her life and refusing to allow her to exit the vehicle they were in, in the area of Deer St. in Portsmouth.” He also allegedly threatened to kill the woman. Rodrick also reportedly kept her in his vehicle and attempted to keep her from testifying against him or he would kill her. He also allegedly cut her throat during the altercation.

The incident is still under investigation and police would like to hear from anyone who might know more about the case. Call Detective Timothy McCain at 603-610-7513 or Detective Kristyn Bernier at 603-610-7529 if you have any information to offer about the allegations.

Back in April, Rodrick was arrested in Amherst, MA, after a fight. He was charged with assault and battery causing serious bodily injury, assault and battery, and disorderly conduct, after allegedly beating a Connecticut man in the head.

Editor’s note: The following post was derived from information supplied by the Portsmouth Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. Click this link to find out how to get a name removed from a New Hampshire Patch arrest report.