MANCHESTER, NH – Police arrested four people in two separate drug-related investigations on Feb. 3, detailed below through a police department narrative.
At approximately 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 3 Patrol Officers Derek Feather and James Pittman observed a green F-150 pick-up truck run a red light at Valley and Maple streets. The driver, Richard Spofford, 33, of Manchester had “erratic speech” and exhibited “strange movements” as he continuously made “furtive gestures” while seated in the vehicle.
Officer Feather noticed a small container on the dashboard as Spofford was asked to exit the truck. Feather also noticed miscellaneous items as well as a small plastic bag containing a substance believed to be crack cocaine. Officer Pittman located another small bag allegedly containing crack cocaine while he patted Spofford down.
Spofford was found to be in possession of 1.47 grams of crack cocaine and subsequently charged with possession of controlled drugs (a felony) and was scheduled to appear in District Court on February 4.
In an unrelated ongoing investigation, Manchester Police Special Enforcement Division (SED) made three arrests – two as part of a search warrant which was executed at 8 Dutton Street, Apt. #5. The search warrant was the result of a lengthy drug investigation involving detectives from the Special Investigative Unit.
The targets of the investigation were Brian Landry, 25, and Miranda Gardner, 23, both of Manchester, who police say were involved in prior sales of heroin to undercover detectives.
The investigation revealed Landry was allegedly purchasing heroin in Lawrence, Mass., so police planned an operation to stop him with a large quantity of heroin.
Detectives followed Landry from Manchester to an undisclosed location in Lawrence, Mass., where they alleged he purchased an unknown quantity of heroin.
By late afternoon, detectives say Landry returned to Manchester and picked up a woman, later identified as Halie Babcock, 23, of Goffstown.
Detectives arrested the two.
Babcock was charged with possession of a controlled drug (1 gram of heroin, valued at approximately $100) after the drug was allegedly found during a pat down search. Babcock’s bail was set at $1,000 cash/surety.
Landry was arrested on a warrant for prior sales.
Police also seized $1,961 in cash. Landry was also charged with sale of a controlled drug.
Gardner was arrested a short time later inside her Dutton Street apartment and charged with sale of a controlled drug, for her involvement in prior sales. based on the police investigation.
Both Landry and Gardner were held on $10,000 cash/surety bail and all three were scheduled to appear in Manchester District Court on Feb. 4.