Details Released On Officer Involved Shooting In Rochester

 

More details have been released on an Officer Involved shooting in Rochester yesterday. Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald, New Hampshire Police Colonel Christopher J. Wagner, and Rochester Police Chief Paul Toussaint said Police had “credible information” that 38-year-old Douglas Heath, was staying at a location in Rochester, “may be in possession of ‘3 firearms’” and that Heath “has no intention of going to jail.”

The briefing form indicated that Mr. Heath had several warrants including one for trafficking narcotics and one for fleeing from Maine State Police.

Shortly after 3:00 p.m. Monday police saw and pursued Heath’s car, which ended in a crash at the intersection of Oak Street and Route 125. Heath left his vehicle from the passenger side and exchanged of gun fire with police, that ended with him being shot and killed. He died at the scene.

The State’s Chief Medical Examiner is set to conduct an autopsy tomorrow. Luckily no officers or civilians were injured during the incident.

The exact circumstances surrounding what started the shootout remains under active investigation, however officials said that Rochester Police vehicles are equipped with cameras, which captured a portion of the incident.

An onlooker also captured some of the incident on video camera.

Pursuant to protocols, each officer is being placed on administrative leave and their names are being withheld pending interviews, which are expected to be conducted later this week.

Any person who witnessed this incident is asked to contact New Hampshire Police Major Crime Unit at (603) 271-3636.