Kungfoolss
07-18-2003, 01:55 PM
Armed male subdued
July 18, 2003
BY RACHEL GRACE TOUSSAINT
newsletter@seacoastonline.com
EPPING - An Epping man faces charges of threatening police with a samurai sword, following a standoff at gunpoint just after midnight yesterday. According to Epping Police Chief Gregory Dodge, the evening’s event were set in motion when police responded to a 911 emergency call hang-up at 12:06 a.m., Thursday, July 17. The call came from 32 Shannon Drive.
When Epping police arrived at the scene, they saw a man in the middle of road. Upon approaching the man - whom they later identified as Vernon Walter, 40, of the Shannon Drive address - they noticed he was dressed in a black gi (a martial arts uniform) and was brandishing a samurai sword.
"He was intoxicated, enraged," said Dodge. "He was agitated and swearing, and made numerous threats to kill police officers." The officers held Walter at gunpoint, ordering him to drop his weapon, but he did not respond. They called in for assistance from Raymond, Fremont and state police. "I do want to say that Officers (Sean) Gallagher and (Richard) McFadden used great restraint in not using lethal force against him," said Dodge. "They came very close, I think, to taking the step they didn’t want to take." "Raymond used a nonmetal ‘beanbag projectile’ at him," added Dodge. "They shot him several times, but did not disarm him." After numerous attempts at disarming Walter, police were finally successful. According to Dodge, once Walter dropped his sword, police charged and then restrained him, using force to subdue him.
Walter was transported to Rockingham County Jail, but was turned away because of the swelling on his face from the beanbag projectiles. He was then taken to Exeter Hospital for an assessment and later brought back to Rockingham County Jail. Walter was scheduled to go before Hampton District Court on Thursday for an arraignment. Police have charged him with three counts of criminal threatening, three counts of reckless conduct, one count of resisting arrest and one count of obstructing report of a crime. The fourth charge stems from an incident alleged to have happened before police arrived.
Walter’s wife was on the phone, making the 911 emergency call, when he allegedly grabbed the phone from her and threw it across the room. The motive behind Walter’s behavior, said Dodge, likely stemmed from a domestic argument.
http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/exeter/07182003/news/40049.htm
July 18, 2003
BY RACHEL GRACE TOUSSAINT
newsletter@seacoastonline.com
EPPING - An Epping man faces charges of threatening police with a samurai sword, following a standoff at gunpoint just after midnight yesterday. According to Epping Police Chief Gregory Dodge, the evening’s event were set in motion when police responded to a 911 emergency call hang-up at 12:06 a.m., Thursday, July 17. The call came from 32 Shannon Drive.
When Epping police arrived at the scene, they saw a man in the middle of road. Upon approaching the man - whom they later identified as Vernon Walter, 40, of the Shannon Drive address - they noticed he was dressed in a black gi (a martial arts uniform) and was brandishing a samurai sword.
"He was intoxicated, enraged," said Dodge. "He was agitated and swearing, and made numerous threats to kill police officers." The officers held Walter at gunpoint, ordering him to drop his weapon, but he did not respond. They called in for assistance from Raymond, Fremont and state police. "I do want to say that Officers (Sean) Gallagher and (Richard) McFadden used great restraint in not using lethal force against him," said Dodge. "They came very close, I think, to taking the step they didn’t want to take." "Raymond used a nonmetal ‘beanbag projectile’ at him," added Dodge. "They shot him several times, but did not disarm him." After numerous attempts at disarming Walter, police were finally successful. According to Dodge, once Walter dropped his sword, police charged and then restrained him, using force to subdue him.
Walter was transported to Rockingham County Jail, but was turned away because of the swelling on his face from the beanbag projectiles. He was then taken to Exeter Hospital for an assessment and later brought back to Rockingham County Jail. Walter was scheduled to go before Hampton District Court on Thursday for an arraignment. Police have charged him with three counts of criminal threatening, three counts of reckless conduct, one count of resisting arrest and one count of obstructing report of a crime. The fourth charge stems from an incident alleged to have happened before police arrived.
Walter’s wife was on the phone, making the 911 emergency call, when he allegedly grabbed the phone from her and threw it across the room. The motive behind Walter’s behavior, said Dodge, likely stemmed from a domestic argument.
http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/exeter/07182003/news/40049.htm
