HAMPSTEAD — A police sergeant was assaulted over the weekend by a 50-year-old woman charged with hosting an underage drinking party where nearly a dozen young people were arrested.
While breaking up the party at 25 Checkerberry Road early Saturday, Detective Sgt. Ken Owen was confronted by resident Laverne Holman Tozier, who demanded a search warrant.
When Owen told her a warrant was not required, she began to hit and kick the sergeant while attempting to get him out of the house, police said.
Owen received assistance from Sandown police Officer Matt Moore to subdue Tozier and place her in a Hampstead cruiser.
Tozier was charged with assault, resisting arrest and facilitating a drug-and-alcohol house party for underage individuals. She was also charged with possession of a controlled narcotic substance, a felony.
Tozier was taken to Rockingham County Jail and held on $10,000 cash bail. She is to be arraigned at 8 a.m. today in Plaistow District Court.
Police said they were called to the home because of complaints about suspicious behavior, numerous cars parked on the road, and loud noise coming from the home.
Minors were found drinking alcohol in the open garage and a full-scale party was taking place in the basement.
"When the juveniles saw the police, they started jumping out windows and running out of doors," Owen said. "The department continued to get calls about strangers running through or hiding in their yards. Units from Sandown, Danville, Kingston and the Plaistow canine unit had arrived and assisted our officers in rounding up some of the underage drinkers."
The following were charged with possession and consumption of alcohol, given a summons and released to a responsible adult. They are to appear in Plaistow District Court at 8 a.m. on July 28:
r Peter Freeman, 12 Freeman Lane, Salem, 19
r Jolene Gawrys, 46 Castle Hill Road, Windham, 18
r Matthew Doucette, 11 Oliver St., Haverhill, Mass., 20
r Rachel Diodati, 748 Salem St., Bradford, Mass., 19
r Kelley Smith, 20 Homestead St., Haverhill, Mass.,18
r Michael Lally, 24 Opossum Drive, Chester, 20
r Katelyn Alder, 55 Evergreen Drive, Bradford, Mass., 19
r Patricia Messina, 25 Fairway Drive, Apt. 15, Derry, 17
r Lyse Bauchman, 20 Corliss St., Windham, 18
r Adrin Merced, 71 Hazeltine St., Bradford, Mass., 20
r An unidentified 15-year old for whom Tozier is the guardian.
The homeowner, Richard Palmer, was asleep on the third floor when the party occurred, police said.
This was the second time in a week a Hampstead police officer was assaulted. On Monday, Officer Kathleen Boulter broke an elbow when she was assaulted by a suspect.
