Date of Release: August 30, 2008

Reference: Portsmouth Sobriety Checkpoint/DUI Hunter Patrols

On Friday, August 29th at 10:00 PM through Saturday, August 30th at 3:00 AM, police officers from Portsmouth, Greenland, Rockingham County Sheriffs Department, New Hampshire State Liquor Enforcement and the New Hampshire State Police Troop A joined together in the deployment of sobriety checkpoint and DUI hunter patrols in Portsmouth.

Prior to their deployment, in a presentation to the officers participating in the checkpoints, Melissa LaRochelle, an active member of MADD, told her story of sorrow having lost her mother to a drunk driver. This put into perspective the motivation for aggressive DUI enforcement by seacoast and State agencies.

Over 550 vehicles were screened by officers and as a result the following 10 individuals were arrested:

Theodore Kacavas
342 Horale Mills Rd
Wells, ME
DOB 01-26-55
Charge: Driving While Intoxicated and Transporting a Controlled Drug

Joseph Mellone
47 Maine St. #9
Durham, NH
DOB 02-18-87
Charge: Driving While Intoxicated

Francisco Guerrero
63-3rd Street Apt B
Dover, NH
DOB 10-03-83
Charge: Prohibition

Alex Thomas
25 Bickford Rd
Rochester, NH
DOB 10-15-85
Charge: Driving While Intoxicated

Fabiano DeOliveira
112 Ledgewood #2
Portsmouth, NH
DOB 10-06-76
Charge: Prohibition

William Logan
49 Wellington Ave
Everett, MA
DOB 01-22-75
Charge: Driving While Intoxicated

Christopher Garrity
52 Glade Path
Hampton, NH
DOB 11-11-65
Charge: Drive While Intoxicated

John Lekatompessy
512 High St
Somersworth, NH
DOB 02-27-67
Charge: Prohibitions

Justin Kozicki
3 St. John St.
Dover, NH
DOB 04-12-88
Charge: Operating after Suspension

Jacob Lange
274 Austin St.
Portsmouth, NH
DOB 08-24-79
Charge: Possession of a Controlled Narcotic and Possession of Drugs in a Motor Vehicle

Someday, we hope to report zero DUI arrests as the result of our efforts; until then, we will continue to aggressively patrol our streets in an effort to apprehend drunk drivers throughout the seacoast.

Expect more DUI Hunter Patrols, Saturation Patrols and Sobriety Checkpoints throughout 2008. We urge would-be impaired drivers to designate a sober driver or make alternative arrangements. Don’t let a drunk driving incident destroy your life or someone else’s. If you drink and drive, you put yourself and the public at great risk and there’s no turning back time when you’re the one involved in a catastrophic accident caused by an impaired driver.

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