Rochester pair nabbed on drug charges after violent arrest

Staff reports


Rochester pair nabbed on drug charges after violent arrest

Douglas Gray, Nikole Coe (Police photos)

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. - A Rochester man was arrested Thursday after a Portsmouth traffic stop resulted in police finding some 25 grams of heroin in his possession.

The incident occurred on Interstate 95 around noon when New Hampshire State Trooper 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 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 of Gray, 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 Trooper 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.

Gray and Coe were arraigned Friday in the 10th Circuit Court in Portsmouth. Coe was held on $2,500 bail while Gray was held on $10,000 bail.

Gray was charged with possession of a narcotic with intent to distribute, resisting arrest and simple assault on a police officer.

Coe was charged with possession of a narcotic drug and giving a false reports to law enforcement.