-
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.
Antrim Police Chief John Blake said situations that turn into standoffs or potential hostage situations are rare in the Monadnock region.
One such situation took place in March, when police had to fire a non-lethal round and use a Taser to apprehend John Fortin, who had allegedly threatened neighbors in the Pine Ridge area of Peterborough with a rifle.
Another incident occurred in Francestown Wednesday, when an encounter with a resident reported to have been causing a disturbance on Old County Road North led to Francestown Police Chief Fred Douglas being hospitalized.
Douglas responded to the call at approximately 9:30 a.m. According to State Police, Richard Vannostrand, 47, of Francestown, had been shouting at a 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 arraigned Thursday on charges that include felony, second degree assault, and resisting arrest or detention. According to State Police, no other officers were injured.
According to Francestown Town Administrator Jamie Pike, Douglas was released from the hospital Thursday.
Asked about the protocol for mental health crisis calls, Blake said each situation must be assessed differently.
“Each situation is unique,” he said. “These situations all start a little differently. Sometimes it starts with a crime being committed; sometimes it starts with a call from somebody who in concerned about the well-being of a friend or family member. We respond accordingly depended on what is needed.”
Because every situation is different, Blake said there are no strategies that are employed across the board.
“There isn’t really a playbook that would cover every situation that could happen. What we have is our policies that are best practices, but every situation evolves differently,” he said.
Blake has had mental health crisis training, and said calls involving people with mental health problems are common. He said the goal is always to connect the person with the services that will help them.
“There may be an increase over the years. It is pretty consistent. A lot of agencies have training in crisis intervention, and we’re looking to do that for our department in 2026. I’ve had the training myself previously, and we’d like get everyone into the same mindset,” he said.
Bill Fonda contributed to this story.]