City pair indicted in fentanyl possession, trafficking

Douglas Gray, Nikole Coe (Police photos)

BRENTWOOD, N.H. - A Rochester man and woman have been indicted on fentanyl possession and trafficking charges in connection with a January traffic stop in Portsmouth that left the male suspect bloodied from a scuffle with police during his arrest.

The incident occurred on Interstate 95 around noon on Jan. 28 when New Hampshire State Trooper Andrew Frigon stopped a 2005 Chrysler Sebring traveling northbound.

Frigon asked Douglas Gray, 43, to step out of the vehicle so Frigon could administer field sobriety tests as Gray showed some signs of narcotic impairment, a State Police press release at the time noted.

As Frigon attempted to administer the tests, Gray appeared to be reaching for a folding knife in his pocket, so Frigon conducted a patdown, at which time Gray attempted to flee by running to his vehicle.

Frigon and Gray then struggled prompting the trooper to use his Taser. More State Troopers and Portsmouth Police soon arrived to aid Frigon.

A search of Gray subsequent to arrest revealed approximately 25 grams of suspected heroin.

Nikole Coe, 22, of Rochester, a passenger in Gray's car, was also found to be in possession of suspected heroin and was also arrested.

The Rockingham County May indictments charge Gray with felony counts of possession, possession with intent to sell and dispensing a controlled drug along with simple assault for allegedly resisting arrest, a Class A misdemeanor, charges that could land him in prison for 40 years if convicted.

Coe was charged with felony possession of fentanyl.

The Rockingham County grand jury indictments were handed down earlier this month.

An indictment is not an indication of guilt, only that enough evidence has been presented to warrant a trial.