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Weapons seized after standoff in Sandwich
By BEA LEWIS
Northern Lakes Region Bureau
SANDWICH — Twenty-eight guns, including several automatic weapons equipped with silencers, were seized this week after a local man was charged with felony reckless conduct for allegedly firing a handgun inside his home, endangering his wife.
Donald Wonders, 49, of 393 Mount Israel Road was taken into custody about 3 p.m. on Tuesday after he walked to the end of his driveway armed with a loaded handgun and rifle.
Wonders did not threaten officers with either of the weapons. He was arrested, ending an armed standoff that lasted nearly four hours.
Sandwich Chief of Police Jeff Jaran said authorities were notified by a physician at Belknap Family Health Care in Meredith that Wonders’ wife had called to get a prescription for Oxycontin refilled.
During the call, the woman told Dr. Caroline Crosby that her husband was threatening to kill himself unless he was able to obtain more of the powerful painkiller that had been prescribed by another physician in the practice for treatment of a back injury.
After Wonders surrendered, his wife gave police permission to search the residence and authorities seized a variety of weapons.
Jaran said State Police detectives discovered several automatic weapons equipped with silencers. Among the 28 guns they seized were assorted handguns, rifles and shotguns.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has been notified of the weapons and could decide to bring additional charges against Wonders, police said.
Chief Jaran credited Dr. Crosby with having the presence of mind to tell Wonders’ wife to come to the office to get the prescription, getting her out of the house and away from potential harm. After fielding the call, Dr. Crosby telephoned police to notify them of the situation.
Jaran said when he was told what was happening he made telephone calls and was able to determine that the couple’s two children were not at home, and were visiting friends.
"In my eyes she’s the hero for having the foresight to get the woman out of the house," said Jaran of Dr. Crosby.
He also praised the work of New Hampshire State Police Sgt. Wayne Agan of Troop E in Tamworth, who came to the scene and assisted in efforts to contact Wonders.
In an initial telephone conversation with Wonders, Jaran said, the distraught man indicated that all he wanted was his medication and that if he didn’t get it he was going to take his own life. He also cautioned Jaran that he didn’t want any police on his property.
Moultonboro Police helped Sandwich and Troopers from Troop E set up a perimeter around the Wonders’ home which sits about 500 yards back from the road, but does have abutting neighbors. Officers braved sub-zero temperatures while Jaran and Agan continued to attempt to contact Wonders.
After learning that Wonders had written a will, Agan notified the New Hampshire State Police SWAT team and updated them on the situation. Wonders broke off contact with police about noon after hanging up on Jaran and then refused to answer the telephone or comply with requests to surrender.
Agan was leaning towards calling the SWAT team to the scene when Wonders came out, ending the standoff.
"It came to a peaceful conclusion without any shots being fired," a grateful Jaran said Thursday.
Wonders was initially taken by Stewart’s Ambulance to Lakes Region General Hospital in Laconia. He was later transferred to the secure psychiatric unit at the New Hampshire State Prison in Concord.
http://www.citizen.com/news2003/February2003/Feb_28/sandwich_02.28.03a.asp
By BEA LEWIS
Northern Lakes Region Bureau
SANDWICH — Twenty-eight guns, including several automatic weapons equipped with silencers, were seized this week after a local man was charged with felony reckless conduct for allegedly firing a handgun inside his home, endangering his wife.
Donald Wonders, 49, of 393 Mount Israel Road was taken into custody about 3 p.m. on Tuesday after he walked to the end of his driveway armed with a loaded handgun and rifle.
Wonders did not threaten officers with either of the weapons. He was arrested, ending an armed standoff that lasted nearly four hours.
Sandwich Chief of Police Jeff Jaran said authorities were notified by a physician at Belknap Family Health Care in Meredith that Wonders’ wife had called to get a prescription for Oxycontin refilled.
During the call, the woman told Dr. Caroline Crosby that her husband was threatening to kill himself unless he was able to obtain more of the powerful painkiller that had been prescribed by another physician in the practice for treatment of a back injury.
After Wonders surrendered, his wife gave police permission to search the residence and authorities seized a variety of weapons.
Jaran said State Police detectives discovered several automatic weapons equipped with silencers. Among the 28 guns they seized were assorted handguns, rifles and shotguns.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has been notified of the weapons and could decide to bring additional charges against Wonders, police said.
Chief Jaran credited Dr. Crosby with having the presence of mind to tell Wonders’ wife to come to the office to get the prescription, getting her out of the house and away from potential harm. After fielding the call, Dr. Crosby telephoned police to notify them of the situation.
Jaran said when he was told what was happening he made telephone calls and was able to determine that the couple’s two children were not at home, and were visiting friends.
"In my eyes she’s the hero for having the foresight to get the woman out of the house," said Jaran of Dr. Crosby.
He also praised the work of New Hampshire State Police Sgt. Wayne Agan of Troop E in Tamworth, who came to the scene and assisted in efforts to contact Wonders.
In an initial telephone conversation with Wonders, Jaran said, the distraught man indicated that all he wanted was his medication and that if he didn’t get it he was going to take his own life. He also cautioned Jaran that he didn’t want any police on his property.
Moultonboro Police helped Sandwich and Troopers from Troop E set up a perimeter around the Wonders’ home which sits about 500 yards back from the road, but does have abutting neighbors. Officers braved sub-zero temperatures while Jaran and Agan continued to attempt to contact Wonders.
After learning that Wonders had written a will, Agan notified the New Hampshire State Police SWAT team and updated them on the situation. Wonders broke off contact with police about noon after hanging up on Jaran and then refused to answer the telephone or comply with requests to surrender.
Agan was leaning towards calling the SWAT team to the scene when Wonders came out, ending the standoff.
"It came to a peaceful conclusion without any shots being fired," a grateful Jaran said Thursday.
Wonders was initially taken by Stewart’s Ambulance to Lakes Region General Hospital in Laconia. He was later transferred to the secure psychiatric unit at the New Hampshire State Prison in Concord.
http://www.citizen.com/news2003/February2003/Feb_28/sandwich_02.28.03a.asp
