A Great Example of How NOT to Shoot Dogs During Raids

Weapons, drugs seized in Hampton Beach, Seabrook raids

By Aaron Sanborn | asanborn@seacoastonline.com | May 05, 2012 2:00 AM

HAMPTON — Five Seacoast residents were arrested Friday morning on various drug charges following police raids at two homes in Hampton Beach and one in Seabrook that resulted in marijuana, cocaine and weapons being seized.

Authorities said the raids and subsequent arrests were the result of a yearlong investigation by multiple agencies into significant drug activity in the area. Search warrants were executed at around 8 a.m. at 7 I St. and 7 Perkins Ave. in Hampton and at 71 Washington St., Seabrook, according to police.
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Anyone with information pertaining to this investigation or any other crimes is asked to call the Hampton Police Department at 929-4444, or contact Crimeline for the Hamptons by e-mail at hamptonscrimeline@yahoo.com or by calling 929-1222.

Police arrested James Ambrosi, 31; Andrew Wojtowicz, 24; Vicki Powell, 31; James Neptune, 27 and David Briere, 28. Ambrosi and Wojtowicz were arraigned Friday in U.S. District Court in Concord on federal truck trafficking charges, according to Hampton Deputy Police Chief Richard Sawyer. Powell, Neptune and Briere are facing state-level charges for possession and sale of drugs, Sawyer said.

Sawyer said authorities seized an unspecified amount of marijuana and cocaine from the three homes, along with several firearms, including one that was reported stolen. Sawyer declined to comment on the specific firearms seized.

He said there were no injuries during the raids.

Sawyer declined to elaborate on what sparked the investigation, saying only it was a large investigation into the sale of illicit drugs in the Hampton area involving Hampton police, the U.S. Attorney's Office, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the N.H. Attorney General's Drug Task Force.

"It was a yearlong investigation, and as the scope got larger, we brought in more agencies and resources," he said. "I think that speaks for itself."

Those in the area at the time of the raid reported a significant police presence.

"I saw a commotion," said witness Mary Sullivan, who works at nearby Wally's Pub.

Sullivan said she was on Ashworth Avenue when she saw authorities arrive in multiple Hampton cruisers and unmarked cruisers.

Hampton police, the Seacoast Emergency Response Team, Southern New Hampshire Special Operations Unit, Seabrook Police Department, Rockingham County Sheriff's Department, N.H. State Police and the U.S. Marshals Service were all involved in the raids, police said.

Sawyer said the large response was needed given the size of the operation, involving three homes and the threat of weapons.

"Any time there's a potential for weapons being present, we have to take that into consideration," he said.

Animal control was also called in to assist.

"We had information that at the locations there was a possibility of dogs and pit bulls that could be hazardous to the officers," Sawyer said.

Four pit bulls were taken from the Perkins Avenue location, according to Sawyer.

The drug investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges and arrests are possible, Sawyer said.

Neptune is being held on $10,000 cash bail, while Briere is being held on $5,000 cash bail, police said. Powell has posted $2,500 cash bail, according to police. All three are scheduled for arraignment June 6 at the 10th Circuit Court in Seabrook.

Sawyer said police are familiar with all five of the individuals arrested.

Anyone with information pertaining to this investigation or any other crimes is asked to call the Hampton Police Department at 929-4444, or contact Crimeline for the Hamptons by e-mail at hamptonscrimeline@yahoo.com or by calling 929-1222.

http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20120505-NEWS-205050316