Saturation Patrol Results

Portsmouth, New Hampshire – On the evening of December 9, 2022 through the early morning hours of December 10, 2022, Troopers assigned to the New Hampshire State Police Troop A Barracks and the New Hampshire State Police Special Enforcement Unit, in conjunction with Officers from the Portsmouth Police Department, participated in a high-visibility DUI Saturation Patrol in the greater Portsmouth area. This initiative was funded by the New Hampshire Office of Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and allowed for a larger contingency of Troopers and Officers to focus on traffic enforcement within the city and surrounding areas. As a result of this collective enforcement effort by Troopers and Officers, a total of 193 traffic stops were conducted, resulting in the issuance of 40 citations and 138 warnings for various motor vehicle infractions. In addition, 11 individuals were arrested for various offenses as follows:

1. Jose R. Loja-Pomaquiza
   Age: 31
   Town of Residence: Milford, New Hampshire
   Charges: Arrest on a Warrant

2. Darwin X. Pino Trelles
   Age: 37
   City of Residence: Fall River, Massachusetts
   Charges: Operating Without a Valid License

3. James G. Schiavoni Jr.
   Age: 57
   City of Residence: Haverhill, Massachusetts
   Charges: Arrest on a Warrant

4. Alan B. Rindler
   Age: 73
   City of Residence: Portsmouth, New Hampshire
   Charges: Driving Under the Influence of Liquor

5. James L. Dunaway
   Age: 39
   Town of Residence: Berwick, Maine
   Charges: Driving Under the Influence of Liquor

6. George Mccall
   Age: 93
   City of Residence: Portsmouth, New Hampshire
   Charges: Driving Under the Influence of Liquor

7. Brandon T. Corliss
   Age: 32
   Town of Residence: Deerfield, New Hampshire
   Charges: Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of Drugs, Contempt – Breach of Bail Conditions, Reckless Driving

8. Cody M. Phelps
   Age: 31
   City of Residence: Colorado Springs, Colorado
   Charges: Driving Under the Influence of Liquor

9. Jamie L. Brave
   Age: 44
   City of Residence: Dover, New Hampshire
   Charges: Driving Under the Influence Liquor

10. Sierra D. Peterson
    Age: 27
    City of Residence: Rochester, New Hampshire
    Charges: Driving Under the Influence of Liquor

During the operational hours of this saturation patrol on December 10, 2022 at approximately 2:14AM, Troopers participating in this effort additionally responded to a report from concerned motorists of a wrong-way driver on the Spaulding Turnpike in the City of Dover, New Hampshire. While responding to this report, Troopers encountered a 2018 Mini Cooper, being operated by Sophia P. Hall, age 22, of Farmington, New Hampshire, traveling in a southerly direction in the northbound lanes of travel of the Spaulding Turnpike in the vicinity of the Dover Toll Plaza. Troopers utilized emergency lights and sirens in an attempt to signal Hall to stop the Mini Cooper however, Hall failed to stop for Troopers. In an effort to mitigate the risk to the motoring public being that Mini Cooper was traveling toward oncoming traffic on the General Sullivan Bridge, Troopers utilized their police cruisers to contain the Mini Cooper, eventually bringing the Mini Cooper to a stop within the left lane of the Spaulding Turnpike near Exit 6. Immediately thereafter, Hall and a heavily intoxicated passenger within the Mini Cooper were taken into custody.

After Troopers placed Hall in the rear of a police cruiser, Hall managed to remove one of her handcuffs. As Troopers attempted to reapply the handcuffs, Hall became combative, resisted Troopers' efforts to restrain her, and assaulted an arresting Trooper by kicking him. Following a brief struggle, Hall was again secured in handcuffs and placed in the rear of a police cruiser. As a result of a subsequent investigation, Hall was arrested and charged with several crimes to include Reckless Conduct (Class B Felony), Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Liquor (Class A Misdemeanor), Disobeying An Officer (Class A Misdemeanor), Resisting Arrest (Class A Misdemeanor), Assault on a Police Officer (Class A Misdemeanor), Escape (Class A Misdemeanor), along with a number of motor vehicle violations. Following her arrest, a bail commissioner set personal recognizance bail on the foregoing charges pending Hall's appearance in Strafford County Superior Court on January 12, 2023 at 12:30PM. Based upon their level of impairment, Hall and the aforementioned passenger were lodged at the Strafford County House of Corrections in protective custody.

As the holiday season persists, the New Hampshire State Police and Portsmouth Police Department would like to encourage all motorists to make safe choices prior to getting behind the wheel and remind everyone that the problem of impaired driving is a preventable one. If you are a member of the motoring public and observe a suspected impaired driver, call 911 immediately and be prepared to provide your exact location to include street names and highway mile markers, a plate number and description of the vehicle involved, along with the details of your observations.