Federal agents cornered a Venezuelan man in a New Hampshire courthouse elevator before tackling him as he tried to flee — and taking down an elderly bystander in the melee, wild security footage shows.
Video released Monday from the Nashua Circuit Court shows two agents throwing 33-year-old Arnuel Marquez Colmenarez down to the floor and handcuffing him just outside an elevator on Feb. 20.
Venezuelan man Arnuel Marquez Colmenarez was arrested in a New Hampshire courthouse by federal agents on Feb. 20, 2025. New Hampshire Judicial Branch/Handout via REUTERSMarquez Colmenarez was in court after being charged with drunken driving, driving without a license and failing to provide information after an accident. New Hampshire Judicial Branch/Handout via REUTERS
An elderly man with a cane, who also rode the elevator with the agents and Colmenarez, was knocked to the floor during the confrontation. He was seen writhing in pain on his back.
Another older man who was in the elevator with the group tried to speak to the agents while they held Marquez Colmenarez down, the footage shows.
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The agents tapped Marquez Colmenarez on the shoulder as he was exiting the elevator. They spoke to him briefly before he tried to escape through the doors, making it just a few feet before the agents pinned him to the ground and barrelled into the man with the cane.
Marquez Colmenarez was appearing in court to face an arraignment on charges for drunken driving, driving without a license and failing to provide information after an accident all filed on Feb. 9, according to Nashua police.
Jared Neff, a court liaison officer for the Hudson Police Department, helped the agents restrain Marquez Colmenarez after overhearing a loud commotion near the elevator.
“There were voices yelling, ‘Stop!’ and then a loud ‘bang,’ which sounded like people had fallen on the ground and were actively fighting and struggling,” he wrote in an incident report.
Neff noted that Marquez Colmenarez was actively resisting arrest.
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An elderly bystander with a cane was knocked down during the arrest. New Hampshire Judicial Branch/Handout via REUTERSMarquez Colmenarez was transferred to an ICE facility in Texas. New Hampshire Judicial Branch via AP
The agents asserted they were working on orders to detain illegal immigrants and had tried to apprehend Marquez Colmenarez in the elevator before he fled, Neff said.
The judge presiding over Marquez Colmenarez’s arraignment issued a bench warrant when he failed to appear, even though he was already in the agents’ custody. The prosecutor handling the case was never contacted by federal agents about the arrest, police said.
Marquez Colmenarez was sent to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Texas, where he remained as of Monday, according to an online database.
Judges and other local officials are trying to fight President Trump’s efforts to place immigration officers in courthouses. Earlier in his term, Trump repealed a 2011 policy requiring that agents avoid public places like schools, religious places, and hospitals.
Immigration officers can make arrests “in or near courthouses when they have credible information that leads them to believe the targeted alien(s) is or will be present” as long as it is permitted under state or local law.
CONCORD – While Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte has said she opposes increasing highway toll rates across the state, the Senate voted Thursday to increase rates for out-of-state license plate holders.
It now goes to the House for consideration.
This would be a $1 increase for those who have out of state plates going through the tolls at Hooksett, Hampton and Bedford for out-of-state plates, a 75 cent hike for those taking Hampton’s Exit 2 and on the Spaulding turnpike at Rochester, and a 50 cent hike for those taking the exit off I-93 to Hooksett.
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An analysis in the bill shows that this would increase toll revenue by $53.3 million in fiscal year 2027 and go up each year to generate $81.4 million a year in 2036.
Senate Bill 627 passed on a voice vote with two Republicans, Senators Regina Birdsell of Hampstead and William Gannon of Sandown opposing.
Senator Mark E. McConkey, R-Freedom, moved to take the bill off the table and offered an amendment. He said the last time there was a systemwide increase to the turnpike toll was 19 years ago.
“I am sure we could all agree the cost of operations…has continued to escalate when revenue is not rising with it,” and he noted that with an enterprise fund, the state can only spend what it takes in.
The state has just completed a 10-year highway plan and there was a $400 million shortfall in projects that could not be paid for under the current income.
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McConkey said the measure would not increase tolls for New Hampshire drivers with a state license plate.
“Why don’t we ask our neighbors,” to pay a toll increase. “We are getting the best of all worlds,” by passing the bill, he said, including “protecting our residents” and having resources for improvements to the turnpike system.
Sen. Gannon, R-Sandown, asked McConkey if there are any studies on impacts near the border on businesses.
If implemented, McConkey said the state will be the 27th lowest in per mile cost still. McConkey said the bill would also increase from seven to 14 days the amount of time for those with NH license plates to pay for a toll adding there are other states that also have different rates for out-of-state users.
The Hampton toll cost would go from $2 to $3, while Hooksett and Bedford would rise from $1 to $2 for out-of-state plates.
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New Hampshire currently has the lowest rate per mile among states with tolls roads. The governor said she does not support a toll increase.
“We are not going to put a burden on drivers for a toll increase,” Ayotte said. “Families are struggling.”
WILTON, N.H. (WHDH) – A woman died in a Wilton, New Hampshire, house fire Wednesday morning, according to the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office.
At 9:08 a.m., Wilton firefighters responded to Burns Hill Road after a caller said their home was filling up with smoke. When they arrived, a single-family home was on fire and they found out two people were still inside on the second floor.
A man and a woman were both taken out of the house by firefighters and taken to Elliott Hospital. The woman was pronounced dead and the man is in serious condition.
Officials have not released the name of the victim at this time.
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At this time, investigators are looking into the cause of the fire and are trying to determine if a power outage in the area played a factor. The fire is not currently considered suspicious.
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