City suspect in DV incident that drew SWAT team indicted

Michael W. Lovely (Rochester Police photo)

DOVER - A Rochester man has been indicted in an April domestic violence incident that sparked a SWAT-team response for a reported standoff on Washington Street in Rochester.

Michael W. Lovely, 33, of 239 Washington St., was listed in four felony indictments including second-degree assault and three counts of simple assault plus two misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief.

The most serious charge, second degree assault, carries a sentence of 7 1/2 to 15 years in state prison.

The April 6 incident began around 3 p.m. when Rochester Police responded to a residence at 239 Washington St. for a reported domestic disturbance. Upon arrival they safely removed an adult female and children from the residence.

According to narratives pulled from that day's police log, Rochester dispatch received a 911 call apparently from one of the children at 2:56 p.m. that said "his father is assaulting his mother."

The caller asked police to hurry before the call was disconnected.

Police log narrative then indicated that the male has a gun and is in the kitchen. Another caller, likely the mother, then says all the kids are outside waiting, before that signal is lost, too.

Upon arrival at the scene officers set up a perimeter, and the Strafford County Regional Tactical Operations Unit was activated and responded to the scene. Washington Street from Chesley Hill Road to Estes Road was closed for several hours while the SWAT team set up.

A search was performed, however Lovely got away, apparently even before police arrived.

A few days later the U.S. Marshal's Fugitive Task Force joined in the hunt for Lovely, and on April 12 he was arrested on Long Shore Drive in Barrington.

The Strafford County grand jury indictments were handed down on July 20 and released today.

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