Man who sued Atkinson officials arrested Thursday
ATKINSON, N.H. — An Atkinson man who sued town officials for First Amendment violations and recently told the selectmen another resident was destroying public roads was arrested Thursday afternoon on a charge of reckless conduct.
But police yesterday would offer few details about the arrest or any events leading up to it.
Leon Artus of Maple Avenue, no age given, has been charged with misdemeanor reckless conduct for a motor vehicle-related incident, Detective Sgt. Phil Farrar said.
Farrar declined to elaborate on what led to the reckless conduct charge.
Police Chief Philip Consentino said a resident had filed a complaint against Artus, but he declined to name the resident.
Artus did not respond to a request for comment yesterday.
He and two other residents filed a lawsuit in federal court in February against several town officials, including Consentino, alleging First Amendment violations.
The lawsuit alleged Consentino prevented them from placing warrant articles on the 2009 Town Meeting ballot.
Earlier this week, a judge dismissed the lawsuit.
At a selectmen's meeting two weeks ago, Artus told the board a Big Island Pond homeowner had damaged Valcat Lane when she built a driveway.
Artus claimed the road Maggie and Daniel Osborn had damaged was a public road and residents in the area couldn't access their properties as a result of their actions.
Maggie Osborn said earlier this week that her family has been harassed by other residents and her home was recently vandalized.
