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A New Hampshire State Police vehicle at the staging area at Pleasant Pond Road and Old Country Road. -
A Francestown Fire Department vehicle at the staging area at Pleasant Pond Road and Old Country Road. -
A New Hampshire State Police vehicle at the staging area at Pleasant Pond Road and Old Country Road. -
A Hillsborough County Sheriff Department van at the staging area at Pleasant Pond Road and Old Country Road. -
First-responders line up in the staging area at Pleasant Pond Road and Old Country Road. -
A police officer blocks the entrance to Old Country Road North, where officers are negotiating with a man barricaded in a home after Francestown Police Department said he assaulted an officer Wednesday morning.
According to Town Administrator Jamie Pike, Police Chief Fred Douglas was released from the hospital Thursday after being injured Wednesday following an encounter with a resident reported to have been causing a disturbance on Old Country Road North
Douglas responded to the call at approximately 9:30 a.m. According to State Police, Richard Vannostrand, 47, of Francestown, had been shouting at the mail carrier and attempting to damage the mail carrier’s vehicle. State Police stated that Vannostrand refused to cooperate and assaulted Douglas, causing him significant, but non-life-threatening injuries.
Vannostrand then barricaded himself in his home. Deputies of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department and officers of the New Boston, Greenfield, Bennington, Hillsborough, Hancock, Peterborough and Antrim police departments all responded, setting a perimeter to contain the suspect. The New Hampshire State Police SWAT and Crisis Negotiation Units were requested and responded to the scene, as did the fire departments from Francestown and Peterborough.
Residents and visitors were asked to leave the area, and the road was closed.
State Police stated that at approximately 5:15 p.m., Vannostrand was taken into custody with the use of less-than-lethal force that resulted in minor injuries. He was hospitalized and scheduled to be arraigned by video at 11 a.m. Thursday in Goffstown District Court. Charges will include felony second degree assault and resisting arrest or detention.
According to State Police, no other officers were injured.
Jesseca Timmons contributed to this story.