Londonderry Police and the New Hampshire State Police arrested two local men and three men from Massachusetts while holding a late night sobriety checkpoint on Route 102.
Police stopped and checked a total of 265 vehicles between 9 p.m. on Friday, June 26, and 3 a.m. on Saturday, June 27, according to a press release from New Hampshire State Police Troop B in Bedford.
John Ramirez, 20, of Manchester was arrested for minor in possession of alcohol, open container and possession of a controlled drug; William McCarthy, 44, of Derry was arrested for operating after suspension.
Police also arrested for driving while intoxicated Derek Schlieff, 40, of Andover, Mass.; Jose Cruze, 35, of Methuen, Mass.; and Mark Proia, 25, of Lawrence, Mass.
In addition to the five arrests, police issued numerous warnings.
An order of the Rockingham Superior Court authorized the checkpoint and police conducted the stops under New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office guidelines.
New Hampshire State Police Col. Robert Quinn and Londonderry Police Chief William Hart, as well as the officers of their departments, consider the detection and apprehension of impaired drivers to be a top priority.
They will continue to collaborate and utilize sobriety checkpoints and other means to deter, detect and remove impaired drivers from New Hampshire’s roadways, according to the press release.
Londonderry Det. Chris Olson said this year’s checkpoint resulted in more arrests than a similar checkpoint held last year, particularly of drunk drivers.
Last year’s checkpoint resulted in two arrests – one individual was driving with a suspended license, and the other was charged with possession of a controlled drug.