CONCORD, NH — An eight-hour standoff with a criminal threat suspect on Monday on Pleasant Street ended after Concord police and its regional SWAT team took the barricaded suspect into custody.
Hank Ussery, 66, of Concord, was arrested on reckless conduct, felon in possession of a dangerous weapon, three criminal threatening counts, and two criminal restraint counts.
Police closed off parts of Liberty and Pleasant streets for about eight hours after receiving a report of a knife threat incident at one of the city’s homeless coalition’s apartment buildings. Around 9:15 a.m., a Riverbend mental health services employee told police the incident occurred at the apartments at 120-122 Pleasant St., owned by the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness, for a report of a man with a knife threatening two women who were social workers. Several officers headed to the area while the department called for a “signal 1,000,” requesting radio silence. Dispatch confirmed the name of the tenant who was the suspect and warned officers he may have a collection of knives inside his unit.
Police attempted to reach the suspect, later identified as Ussery, via a cell phone with a Massachusetts area code. One officer in the field stated they had made visual contact with the suspect from a window.
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“He is swearing at us through the window,” one officer stated.
The suspect was described as a man in his mid-60s, bald, about 5 feet, 5 inches tall, and weighing around 150 pounds. Dispatch said police had limited interactions with the suspect. The only known incident was an unwanted guest call in July at Nonna’s Place on Pleasant Street, they said. Dispatch accused Ussery of throwing items and threatening staff members.
Officers discussed the building’s layout, including how all of the units were separated, while attempting to evacuate residents from the building and shutting down streets around the home.
Around 10 a.m., officers reported contacting Ussery. A woman, one officer said, was with him.
Concord police posted a note on X-Twitter around 10:45 a.m. requesting residents and commuters stay out of the area.
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The mobile crisis unit was requested around 11:30 a.m., and police said more officers and mental health employees would be coming to the building. Clinicians were expected to be at the building around 12:45 p.m.
SAU 8 School Superintendent Kathleen Murphy notified Concord High School parents of the police action.
Just before noon, a watch commander announced police were filing an arrest warrant and a search warrant against Ussery. The watch commander also stated it appeared the suspect was involved in a previous stabbing incident, according to scanner chatter. Patch learned later Ussery was previously incarcerated on manslaughter and first-degree assault charges in Oklahoma.
The Central New Hampshire Special Operations Unit was activated and eventually entered the building.
Ussery was taken into custody on several charges just before 5 p.m. He refused bail and will be arraigned in Concord District Court on Tuesday. Ussery was taken to Concord Hospital, where he received treatment for a facial injury and alcohol consumption, according to scanner chatter.
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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