On May 5, 2021 at approximately 9:55 pm, Conway Police Officers were made aware of a subject, wanted out of the State of Vermont who was believed to be armed and staying in a local hotel. The wanted subject was identified as Arthur Butler, 19 years of age, Topsham, Vermont.

Conway Dispatchers confirmed the open warrant for Butler and advised he was wanted on the charge of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon out of Vermont with extradition authorized for all New England states.

Conway Police Officers gathered information from officials in Vermont which included intelligence that Butler may be traveling in a Toyota Rav4, being operated by a female coming from the Berlin, NH area.  Shortly after receiving this information, Sergeant Michael Boucher observed a Toyota Rav4 leaving the parking lot of the hotel Butler was believed to be staying at. Sergeant Boucher observed the vehicle was being operated by a female and that there was a subject seated in the front passenger’s seat as well.  Sergeant Boucher followed the vehicle and observed as it pulled into the Shell gas station located at the corner of River Road in North Conway, NH.

At this time, a rear door of the vehicle opened and a male subject, believed to be Butler, ran on foot from the vehicle down River Road.  Officers set up a perimeter in the area in order to await the arrival of Conway Police Department’s K-9 Summit and K-9 Officer Morganne Sterl.  Shortly thereafter Master Patrol Officer Shawn Baldwin observed the suspect come out of the tree line in the area behind Eastern Slope Inn’s Whitaker Suites.  Sergeant Boucher recognized the suspect as the male who fled from the rear seat of the Toyota Rav4.  After a brief struggle with Sergeant Boucher and Master Patrol Officer Baldwin the male, confirmed to be Arthur Butler, was taken into custody without further incident.

Butler’s arrest warrant out of the Vermont Superior Court shows Butler is charged with Aggravated Assault and Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.  Butler was transported to the Carroll County House of Corrections.  An extradition hearing is scheduled for today, May 6, 2021 at 1330 hours.

~ Suzanne Kelley-Scott, Lieutenant

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Shelburne – Fish & Game Conservation Officers and volunteers from Androscoggin Valley Search & Rescue (AVSAR), and Stonehearth Open Learning Opportunities (SOLO) responded to a report of an injured hiker approximately 3 miles up the Carter-Moriah Trail in Shelburne Saturday afternoon around 2:00 p.m.

The hiker, identified as Donald Devost, 48, of Berwick, ME, was descending after summiting Mt. Moriah when he slipped a steep, granite slab on the trail and suffered an injury to his lower leg.  In pain and unable to bear any weight on that leg, Devost made a call to 911 requesting help.

Responding rescue personnel, including a class of Wilderness First Responder students from SOLO out of the Conway area, hiked in from the trailhead off Bangor Street in Gorham.  Initial first responders on scene treated the injured leg and placed Devost into a litter and started carrying him down a mile of trail to an awaiting ATV.  Devost was then taken from the litter and placed on the ATV and driven down nearly 2 miles to the trailhead.  The rescue crew arrived at the trailhead at 6:45 p.m.  From there Devost was transported to Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin for further treatment of his injury.

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Gov. Sununu with Smokey Bear and N.H. Forest Protection personnel. Picture Courtesy of Governor Sununu’s Facebook Page

Governor Chris Sununu has proclaimed April 18-24 “Wildfire Awareness Week,” part of an effort to raise the level of public consciousness about the dangers of wildfire and its impact not only on New Hampshire’s forested landscape, but also the potential impact to homes, personal property and the state’s wide variety of recreational opportunities.

Unlike other parts of the country that experience their annual increase in wildfire activity in the summer and fall, spring is wildfire season in the northeastern portion of the United States, when dry grasses, leaves and pinecones, along with fallen twigs and branches, serve as potential fuel for a wildfire.

Limited precipitation received within the past week has not significantly improved the ongoing drought conditions in New Hampshire. More than 57 percent of the state is now experiencing moderate drought conditions and the remainder of the state is classified as abnormally dry.

The heightened concern for wildfires will continue until adequate precipitation is received allowing new leaves and green vegetation to emerge.

“As we transition from winter to spring, it’s important that everyone be aware that their change in activities may alter the causes of wildfires, but not the risk,” said Capt. Douglas Miner from the N.H. Forest Protection Bureau. “Being vigilant about what we are doing outdoors – whether disposing of ash from a woodstove, having that first cookout of the season or doing something else that involves combustion – and practicing strong wildfire prevention behavior can have an enormous impact on all of us.”

Ninety percent of wildfires in New Hampshire are caused by human behavior. While brush fires and campfires are common causes, other sources include improper disposal of smoking materials, overheated engines and sparks emitted from machinery.

“New Hampshire’s forests experienced a significant increase in visitors in 2020, and overall that’s great for our health and our economy,” said Patrick Hackley, director of the N.H. Division of Forests and Lands. “Unfortunately, not everyone understands how their actions might start a wildfire and cause damage to our landscape. This proclamation serves to highlight the importance of wildfire prevention awareness.”

The state’s Forest Protection Bureau, part of the N.H. Division of Forests and Lands, is responsible for protecting 4.5 million acres of both public and private New Hampshire forestlands from the threat of wildland fire and crimes against the forest resource. This is accomplished by forest rangers, fire patrolmen, fire tower personnel and support staff as well as the forest fire wardens and deputy wardens serving in each community.

From 2016-2020, New Hampshire experienced an average of 119 wildfires impacting 276 acres annually.

The N.H. Forest Protection Bureau is part of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources’ Division of Forests and Lands, which protects and promotes the value provided by trees, forests and natural communities. For more information about the Division of Forests and Lands and the work of its Forest Protection Bureau, visit nh.gov/nhdfl or call 603-271-2214.

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