Farmington Cover Up?

[Dottie]

I hope that I am in the right forum......
I am a resident of the State of Maine who has followed the Free State Project since its inception. I had been contemplating a move between New Hampshire and another state since last year. However, my recent experience with N.H. has raised a "red flag." As one who holds the same values and agrees with FSP's Statement of Intent, I am asking for freestaters' backing and support in demanding accountability of Farmington town officials. Elder abuse, which led to the death of a man, is being covered up by the Farmington Police Dept. and town officials, not a way to live in N.H. If I am in the right forum, I will forward in another message more info and  I hope that you will assist me and conclude that what has happened in Farmington, N.H. goes beyond all bounds of decency and warrants a full investigation and prosecution where evidence demands, not a cover up. My recent request to meet with Farmington selectmen has been rejected. A town meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 14, 2006 and I am asking freestarters to attend this meeting with us.  I will give you more info if I'm in the right forum.
                                                                      Dottie

[Dottie]

Is this too "sticky" for this forum? Unfortunately, we live in a "sticky" society. If you don't stand up for something, you'll fall for anything!

[Tom Sawyer]

Oh, I don't think it is too sticky.

Welcome to the forum.

Sometimes, folks have been spread too thin to jump to every injustice.

Christopher King is someone on this forum that might be able to help. Anyone else want to chime in?

[Dottie]

Thanks Roger. I hope to hear from Chris soon. This issue is most important to people who live in N.H. If I know that people are interested in justice and accountability, or lack thereof, I will post further details on this issue, and the cover up!

[Tom Sawyer]

Definitely keep us posted... 

Thanks for taking on the trouble you see needs to be addressed.

[Dottie]

On August 5, 2006 I e-mail the following to Farmington Police Chief, Scott Roberge. I received no response. I contacted members of the Farmington Board of Selectmen requesting a meeting with them to discuss the job performance of the Farmington Police Dept. or be added to their Monday, August 14, 2006 agenda. My request was denied. One member wrote back to me stating that this was serious.....but the board is not interested in the safety of people who visit their town? And the P.D. gets away with this.....at the taxpayers' expense! Why is the Board of Selectmen brushing this under the rug? This is why I am asking freestaters to join us at the board meeting on Monday to hold their feet to the fire and get answers. This is not only unacceptable, this is criminal and in violation of N.H. law.

Dear Chief Roberge,

On Wednesday, June 28, 2006 I contacted you about a pending case of elder abuse within the Town of Farmington at the home of XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, Farmington, N.H. which Corporal Ferguson was investigating and resulted in death. Since you had no knowledge of this case, I briefly informed you of this serious situation. You informed me that Corporal Ferguson would be in contact with me the following day.

On Thursday, June 29, 2006 I received a telephone call from Corp. Ferguson and I wanted to know the status of his investigation. I was informed by Corp. Ferguson that the investigation was in a preliminary stage, yet he saw no evidence of crimes committed. I once again told Corp. Ferguson that I hoped that his investigation would not be compromised by XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX claim of knowing all of the officers in your department.

Since the end of July, people have tried to contact Corp. Ferguson via telephone regarding the status of this case and the status of assault charges filed. Messages were left on his answering machine and messages were left with the secretary/dispatch and I finally received a phone call from Corp. Ferguson on August 4, 2006. I was informed by Corp. Ferguson that he was closing the file on this case. I asked Corp. Ferguson if he had read my correspondence faxed to him on July 30, 2006 regarding N.H.'s Criminal codes and the violations that were pertinent to his investigation. He stated there was nothing to it. Myself, and others, totally disagree! People from Maine who have either filed complaints, complaints of assaults, reports, or telephoned Corp. Ferguson of their concerns about the abuse, including those who have knowledge of what took place in Farmington, had a gut feeling that this investigation would be compromised. With the closing of this case by Corp. Ferguson, one can conclude that this case WAS compromised. What did Corp. Ferguson have to gain by closing this case? Why has Corp. Ferguson taken the word of those who are the perpetrators of this abuse, resulting in death?

I would like to bring to your attention New Hampshire's Adult Protection Statute, RSA 161-F:42-57 which mandates the reporting of elder abuse. Why did Corp. Ferguson fail to report elder abuse to the District Attorney? His response will probably be that "XXXXXXXXXXXXXX was sick.". Corp. Ferguson is NOT a doctor. There is no evidence that Mr. XXXXXXX was "terminally ill" and required hospice care. Unfortunately, Corp. Ferguson does not know, or understand the law, and, therefore, should not close out a case for lack of intelligence or knowledge. As an officer in your department, why didn't Corp. Ferguson report elder abuse as mandated by law?

In my conversation with Corp. Ferguson on August 4, 2006, I asked if he had contacted the Bureau of Elder Services who was investigating my concerns of elder abuse. He said no. I learned from XXXXXXXXXXXXXX, Bureau of Elder Abuse, that she had left a message on Corp. Ferguson's answering machine regarding obtaining a police escort. I had learned from telephone conversations with the elder abuse agency and your department, that neither agency corresponds with each other. What kind of protection is this? The life of a man has been taken by the failures of N.H. agencies/officials to communicate and take action. This is unacceptable! What has taken place in Farmington, N.H. contradicts the Farmington Police Department's Mission Statement: "To create a feeling of safety for the people within the Town of Farmington".

I am attaching my faxed message to Corp. Ferguson and request that you remove him from this investigation and that you reconsider the closing of this case. I will await your response.

                                                                                       

[lildog]

I think you need to back up a bit on this since none of us here are aware of what happened.

First off who was it that died (since their dead I don?t think they care if we mention them by name)?

Secondly what exactly happened (the elder abuse) that led to their death?

I think there are a number of people here who would be more then willing to help but we do need a little more details about the actual abuse.

[Dave Ridley]

Dottie do you have names and contact info for some officials we could call and start asking questions?  They hate it when you ask questions.  If they have done something wrong, that is.

Personally, I don't get all that upset when police do nothing, but if they do something bad, and they are in NH, I like to call them and e-mail them at least.

BTW welcome to the Underground; you bet you are in the right place; I hope you will stick around!

[Dottie]

On Monday, August 14th a group of us went to the Farmington NH Board of Selectmen's meeting. I gave the board a FOIA request for their written reason as to why they have refused my request to meet with the board over the elder abuse which took place in their town, resulting in death. I learned from the secretary in the selectmen's office that the town attorney faxed a memo to the board stating that this was not a town matter, it's a criminal matter. I asked who is the police dept. accountable to? As elected officials they have a duty and obligation to act. During the meeting, the Chief of Police showed up at the meeting to comment. He was watching the meeting on TV. He said the District Attorney and the Attorney General had investigated this case. I rebutted. If they investigated, no one who has personal knowledge of this case or who was assaulted and filed complaints with the P.D. were ever interviewed or called. Additionally, I had called the A.G.'s office about the elder abuse and learned that elder abuse cases are handled by the local P.D.  This is far from over!

I will respond to lildog's post. I do not want to publicly reveal the names at this time. I fear for my life. Plans were made between this man's sister (from another state) and her daughter (in Farmington) to have a friend of the daughter ride with the gentleman to visit his sister. This was to be an overnight stay and leave in the morning. (The niece has not bothered with her uncle for 30 years, and vice versa.) Instead, the elder gentleman was used, manipulated, controlled and financially exploited with the use of drugs. His heart medications were withheld, our joint savings and checking accounts were depleted, he was isolated from me and his friends and some who tried to see him were assaulted. What is really frightening is this man had a permit to carry a weapon and weapons are now in the hands of this type of person. Drugs and weapons are a very bad recipe for tragedy.

Farmington Board of Selectmen
Paula Proulx, Chair  2007  (603) 755-3437  pproulx@worldpath.net 
Gerald McCarthy  2009  (603) 755-2636     
Paul Parker Vice Chair  2007  (603) 755-2208  mapapa@metrocast.net 
George Meyer  2008  (603) 755-3654  glm@metrocast.net (he quit last week)
Martin Gilman  2009  (603) 755-3741 

Farmington Police Dept. Police Chief, Scott Roberge 603-755-2731

Why is the Chief obstructing justice, covering for Lt. Ferguson, and the board allowing it?

[Minsk]

Unless I just missed it while searching, it might be useful to nab someone with newspaper-writing skills to produce a publishable article about the case.

Still really fuzzy on the people and actions involved. Am I correct that story goes: <edit>Incorrect interpretation removed</edit>

[Dottie]

Not correct, the niece is the one who used, abused, manipulated. (I hold Power of Attorney on this man and medical Power of Attorney.) The sister ended up coming to N.H. where she now could control her brother with the help of her daughter, thru drugs. Some friends who did get to see the man one time, witnessed pills being given to him and his weakened state. Myself and others are witness to phone conversations with this man who was obviously under some medication. This man's cell phone was eventually controlled by the niece and others in the household and none of his friends were able to contact him.... totally out of character for this man who spent lots of time of the phone with his friends. The Bureau of Elder services was investigating this household. Elder services was in the process of getting a police escort for me to go to the residence, since I (and others) had been assaulted and had "notice" to stay off the property. Alienating elderly from their friends is a violation of NH's Elder Abuse laws. I received a phone call from the caseworker at elder services and learned that the residence was locked up and no one around. A phone message was left at elder services that the friend had taken the man out of state and died that night at his sister's home. I learned from the caseworker that this is the most bizarre case they have ever seen. You don't take a person on an 8 hour trip who is in such a weakened state! Death certificate states cause of death, heart attack. The abuse happened in NH, for a 2 and 1/2 month period, death occurred in another state. When the niece knew that I would be coming to the residence, everyone fled. This man would be alive today had NH officials done their job!

[Tom Sawyer]

Sounds like a terrible situation... sorry to hear of this.

It seems that the state authorities were he died need to be contacted and because of the interstate aspect perhaps it is a federal matter.

I really don't know much about such things, but it would seem that a written account of these events should be notarized and submitted to all the agencies involved.

I would think an attorney could advise you on the best course of action. Although I would submit and receive information in written form from all parties you deal with.

Also if his body was cremated it would prevent a medical exam. An autopsy could be helpful.

[Dottie]

It is a terrible situation and contradicts the Farmington Police Dept.'s Mission Statement: "To create a feeling of safety for the people within the Town of Farmington." The failure of the police department to act upon an assault complaint by an individual with a visible disability speaks volumes as to their refusal/failure to investigate elder abuse. Outside authorities have been contacted. I went to the Farmington Board of Selectmen's meeting in an attempt to get their written denial of my request to come before them, to no avail. I presented the board with a FOIA request for their memo from the town attorney, let's see what happens. Nevertheless, the abuse occurred in Farmington, NH., not to mention the theft of property, money,etc.

[Dottie]

To Roger, I haven't heard from Chris. To DaDa, thank you for the welcome. To Minsk and lildog, are my  answers sufficient in giving you the "picture"? Has anyone made calls or contact? If you have other questions, please feel free to ask. Thanks for your help in exposing official corruption.

[Dave Ridley]

Dottie I am too confused to even ask the right questions.  Could you sum up for us in one paragraph what has happened that has you so upset, and most importantly what if anything the authorities have done to cause harm?