MANCHESTER — Police issued multiple citations to panhandlers around the Queen City in recent days, including several along the busy South Willow Street retail corridor.
While panhandling is not considered a crime, Manchester Lt. Brian O’Keefe said it can cause disruptions to traffic, which is a violation of city ordinances, and create safety issues for motorists and the panhandlers themselves.
“These safety concerns have been heightened with the increased traffic related to the holiday shopping season,” O’Keefe said in a statement.
According to O’Keefe, police observed several people panhandling in the area of South Willow Street, issuing eight summonses to seven people for disorderly conduct. The violations do not result in an arrest.
According to police, officers observed Mark Paquin, 36, of 345 Titus Ave., Manchester, in the vicinity of the traffic light at 777 S. Willow St. at 12:40 p.m. Dec. 3, where they say he was impeding traffic flow while collecting an item from a motorist. Police said Paquin was allegedly standing on the median at the entrance to the shopping plaza when he caused the disruption in traffic flow while the vehicles were trying to navigate the area during a green traffic light. He was issued a disorderly conduct summons and will appear in the 9th Circuit Court-Manchester on Jan. 12, 2016.
Police say they saw Candace Neal, 53, of 790 S. Porter St., Manchester, standing at the intersection of the Interstate 293 off-ramp and South Willow Street eastbound Dec. 1 around 11:30 a.m., and again Dec. 5 around 11 a.m. Police say on both occasions Neal allegedly received an item from a motorist, causing a disruption in traffic flow during a green light in a heavily traveled area. She was issued a disorderly conduct summons for both incidents and will also appear in court Jan. 12.
Officer Steven Duquette reported observing Manchester resident Jefferson Kimball, 23, of 156 Orange St., Apt. 4, at the intersection of Beech and Bridge streets around noon Dec. 4, running into the street to collect money. Duquette said he saw another vehicle traveling east almost hit Kimball, who was issued a summons for disorderly conduct and is scheduled to appear in court Jan. 7.
Officers reported seeing a second woman, identified as Elisabeth Sanford, 30, of 455 Pine St., Apt. 301, Manchester, allegedly panhandling around 11:10 a.m. Dec. 5 at the westbound Exit 1 off-ramp of I-293. Police say Sanford allegedly impeded holiday traffic while collecting an item believed to be cash from a motorist and was issued a disorderly conduct summons. She is scheduled to appear in the 9th Circuit Court-Manchester on Jan. 12.
Police say they observed another Manchester man, identified as John Tilton, 49, of 363 Silver St., Unit 6, standing at the I-293 off-ramp at South Willow Street around 4:25 p.m. Dec. 5, allegedly stopping traffic during a green light to collect an item from a driver. Tilton was issued a summons for disorderly conduct and is scheduled to appear in court Jan. 23.
John Escobar, 49, of 165 Conant St., Unit 3, Manchester, was issued a summons for disorderly conduct after police say they observed him standing with a sign Dec. 6 around 11 a.m. at the Exit 1 off-ramp from I-293. Police report seeing him stop traffic to collect an item from a motorist who stopped during a green traffic cycle, a week after officers say they cautioned Escobar. They informed him not to stop traffic flow and/or step on to the roadway while panhandling or it would result in a disorderly conduct charge. Escobar will appear in court Jan. 12.
An individual, identified as Jeffrey Bunker, 25, of no known address was issued a summons Dec. 6 at 11:10 a.m. on South Willow Street near the entrance to the Mall of New Hampshire. Police say Bunker was standing in the median at the entrance and exit to the mall’s parking area and allegedly nearly caused a motor vehicle crash after walking into the road to collect money from a motorist. Like the others listed above, Bunker was issued a summons for disorderly conduct. He is scheduled to appear in the 9th Circuit Court-Manchester on Dec. 23.
According to O’Keefe, officers spoke with each violator and told them of the many services in Manchester available to them, including food assistance from the New Horizons Soup Kitchen and 1269 Café.
In an effort to discourage panhandling at busy intersections in the city, Manchester police are asking motorists to make donations to charitable organizations that assist those in need instead of giving directly to panhandlers.
pfeely@unionleader.com
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Actions like this prove that we have too many cops, and not nearly enough crime to justify their employment.
They keep large numbers of them on the payroll just in case they have to beat groups of angry Americans into submission, but their employment has absolutely nothing to do with crime other than using it as an excuse to keep the goon squad around.