Six Arrested in Salem on Drug, Other Charges

SALEM, NH — It was a busy day for the Salem Police on April 6, 2015, as they were able to arrest six people on driving violation, drug possession, and other charges. According to a press statement from Lt. Joel Dolan, at around 10:30 p.m. last night, Chief Paul Donovan reportedly saw a vehicle traveling about 90 mph on Veterans Memorial Parkway and attempted to pull the vehicle over. The vehicle, however, refused to stop and slowed to around 30 mph.

Editor’s Note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Salem 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 police report.

“As the vehicle continued at this speed Chief Donovan was able to observe the male operator change positions with the female passenger as the vehicle was in motion so that the female was now operating the vehicle,” Dolan alleged.

Other patrol units responded and the vehicle later stopped on Lawrence Road near the South Salem Fire Station. A man, Philip Wetmore, 24, of Salem, allegedly “initially refused to exit the vehicle” but was removed later and arrested.

At the police station, a woman allegedly admitted to concealing “a large amount of cocaine,” nine bags, as well as eight Suboxone pills. She was charged with allowing an improper person to drive a vehicle, possession of cocaine, possession of a controlled drug (suboxone), and disobeying a police officer.

Wetmore was charged with operating after being declared a habitual offender, disobeying an officer, resisting arrest or detention, and reckless conduct with a deadly weapon. Wetmore was previously arrested in 2012 and 2014, according to reports on Patch. Wetmore was arraigned that day after and held without bail.

According to Dolan, police made four other traffic and drug arrests on Monday.

Lance Bellerose, 40, of Merrimack, was arrested after a motor vehicle stop and charged with possession of heroin, disobeying an officer, falsifying physical evidence, and driving after suspension. He was arrested on an OUI charge in Merrimack in 2014.

Catherine Gagne, 41, and Donald West, 41, both of Pittsfield, were both arrested after a motor vehicle stop and charged with possession of a controlled drug. West was also charged with transporting drugs in a motor vehicle.

Anthony Maldonado, 26, of Lowell, MA, was arrested after a motor vehicle stop on two active bench warrants charging him with cruelty to animals and operating after suspension. He was also charged with possession of marijuana and transporting drugs in a motor vehicle.

Editor's Note: This report has been edited. Charges against a woman were dropped in 2017.