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Posted by: MA Danvers-

NH Highway Patrol Officer cited for court disorder in Plymouth

01/19/08, A state highway patrolman was cited for civil contempt after becoming so disgruntled with a judge's ruling that he smashed the door as he left the courtroom.
Judge Thomas Rappa Jr., a special justice in Plymouth District Court, issued a contempt order on Jan. 14 citing Jeffrey Bird, 41, and ordering him to make restitution to the state for the cost to repair or replace the door that he damaged when he stormed out of the courtroom on Jan. 11.
Administrative Justice for the District Court Edwin Kelly was among those who inspected the damage to one of two heavy wooden doors on courtroom one on the second floor of the Plymouth District Court located at 26 Green St.
According to Rappa's civil contempt of court order, the incident was sparked by a criminal case. On April 1, 2007, Bird, who was off-duty, drove to Richard Hallberg's place of business in Bridgewater in response to Hallberg's request that Bird certify one of his vehicles for operation. Rappa wrote, "In essence, Officer Bird was trying to do (Hallberg) a favor."
Bird drove his private vehicle, a pickup truck, to Hallberg's business and had his 4-year-old son secured in a car seat in the passenger side of the truck. As he pulled in, Hallberg, 78, was using a commercial pressure washer and was cleaning a piece of equipment in the driveway. Bird apparently ran over the hose to the machine, agitating Hallberg, who in turn sprayed a blast from the pressure washer at the truck. Bird had rolled the passenger side window down to talk to Hallberg and a portion of the spray hit Bird's son in the face. Although the boy initially complained that he could not see, he did not suffer significant or permanent injuries, according to court records.
New Hampshire State Trooper Sherry Vestal, who is assigned to Troop F in Twin Mountain, arrested Hallberg, who lives at 11 Whittemore Point Road in Bridgewater, on Oct. 22 and charged him with two counts of simple assault and reckless conduct, all Class B misdemeanors, each potentially punishable by up to a year in jail upon conviction.
Hallberg retained former New Hampshire Attorney General Philip McLaughlin of Laconia to represent him. The case was tried before Judge Rappa on Jan. 11.
When Rappa announced his findings, Bird jumped up and stormed out of the courtroom, smashing through the entrance door, causing significant damage. On Friday, the courtroom was locked, but a number of large wood screws had been twisted into the door's edge closest to the hinges to hold the splintered pieces together.
After witnessing the outburst, Rapp ordered bailiffs to "detain" Bird. Witnesses said Bird was placed in a holding cell for about an hour while Rappa finished processing the case. Bird was then summoned back into the courtroom where he apologized for his reaction to the findings.
Rappa wrote that Bird's apology "mitigated his actions to some degree and, in the court's judgment, took this matter out of the realm of criminal contempt."
In order to purge himself of a civil contempt order of the court, Bird must pay to replace or repair the door.
"This court is well aware of the distinction between criminal and civil contempt. The purpose of this finding is to simply require that Officer Bird reimburse the State of New Hampshire for the costs of repair of the damage he did to the door. It is not the court's intention to impose any further sanctions against Officer Bird. Therefore, the due process rights associated with criminal contempt proceedings do not apply," Rappa wrote.
Bird's supervisor reportedly went to the courthouse and retrieved the surveillance tape from the day of the incident. Several cameras are located in the central hallway and monitor those entering or exiting the courtrooms.

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Posted by: rg1283

Must have been pissed about the merger.

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Posted by: xxafspxx

Well atleast he's not in jail and only has to pay for a door.

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Posted by: Foxy85

HIs career will suffer in one way or another as well...

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Posted by: JoninNH

... Unfortunately Foxy's probably right... since this was a published in a newspaper even if he kept it quiet the brass would soon find out.

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Posted by: MA Danvers-

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foxy85 HIs career will suffer in one way or another as well...

I only hope it does not happen. I could see myself in his shoes.

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Posted by: JoninNH

Accidents and incidents happen, but I have always prided myself in not busting courthouse doors out of anger. I too hope that nothing comes of it though.

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Posted by: Sniper

For those of you who are old and blind like me.........

01/19/08, A state highway patrolman was cited for civil contempt after becoming so disgruntled with a judge's ruling that he smashed the door as he left the courtroom.
Judge Thomas Rappa Jr., a special justice in Plymouth District Court, issued a contempt order on Jan. 14 citing Jeffrey Bird, 41, and ordering him to make restitution to the state for the cost to repair or replace the door that he damaged when he stormed out of the courtroom on Jan. 11.
Administrative Justice for the District Court Edwin Kelly was among those who inspected the damage to one of two heavy wooden doors on courtroom one on the second floor of the Plymouth District Court located at 26 Green St.
According to Rappa's civil contempt of court order, the incident was sparked by a criminal case. On April 1, 2007, Bird, who was off-duty, drove to Richard Hallberg's place of business in Bridgewater in response to Hallberg's request that Bird certify one of his vehicles for operation. Rappa wrote, "In essence, Officer Bird was trying to do (Hallberg) a favor."
Bird drove his private vehicle, a pickup truck, to Hallberg's business and had his 4-year-old son secured in a car seat in the passenger side of the truck. As he pulled in, Hallberg, 78, was using a commercial pressure washer and was cleaning a piece of equipment in the driveway. Bird apparently ran over the hose to the machine, agitating Hallberg, who in turn sprayed a blast from the pressure washer at the truck. Bird had rolled the passenger side window down to talk to Hallberg and a portion of the spray hit Bird's son in the face. Although the boy initially complained that he could not see, he did not suffer significant or permanent injuries, according to court records.
New Hampshire State Trooper Sherry Vestal, who is assigned to Troop F in Twin Mountain, arrested Hallberg, who lives at 11 Whittemore Point Road in Bridgewater, on Oct. 22 and charged him with two counts of simple assault and reckless conduct, all Class B misdemeanors, each potentially punishable by up to a year in jail upon conviction.
Hallberg retained former New Hampshire Attorney General Philip McLaughlin of Laconia to represent him. The case was tried before Judge Rappa on Jan. 11.
When Rappa announced his findings, Bird jumped up and stormed out of the courtroom, smashing through the entrance door, causing significant damage. On Friday, the courtroom was locked, but a number of large wood screws had been twisted into the door's edge closest to the hinges to hold the splintered pieces together.
After witnessing the outburst, Rapp ordered bailiffs to "detain" Bird. Witnesses said Bird was placed in a holding cell for about an hour while Rappa finished processing the case. Bird was then summoned back into the courtroom where he apologized for his reaction to the findings.
Rappa wrote that Bird's apology "mitigated his actions to some degree and, in the court's judgment, took this matter out of the realm of criminal contempt."
In order to purge himself of a civil contempt order of the court, Bird must pay to replace or repair the door.
"This court is well aware of the distinction between criminal and civil contempt. The purpose of this finding is to simply require that Officer Bird reimburse the State of New Hampshire for the costs of repair of the damage he did to the door. It is not the court's intention to impose any further sanctions against Officer Bird. Therefore, the due process rights associated with criminal contempt proceedings do not apply," Rappa wrote.
Bird's supervisor reportedly went to the courthouse and retrieved the surveillance tape from the day of the incident. Several cameras are located in the central hallway and monitor those entering or exiting the courtrooms.

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Posted by: Rock

Thanks Sniper, I thought I was straining my eyes alone

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