Pubdate: Thu, 24 Nov 2005
Source: Portsmouth Herald (NH)
Copyright: 2005 Seacoast Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/index.htm
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1157
Author: Beth LaMontagne
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing)

MAN CHARGED WITH 3 ROBBERIES ALLEGEDLY POINTED GUN AT POLICE

DOVER -- The man suspected of robbing three local businesses to feed 
his crack cocaine habit and leading state police on a high-speed 
chase was arraigned Wednesday in Dover District Court.

Christopher Drake, 31, of South Berwick, Maine, has been charged with 
two counts of armed robbery, a Class A felony. He is also charged 
with two counts of disobeying an officer, conduct after an accident, 
reckless driving and reckless conduct, all misdemeanors.

Drake pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charges and entered no 
plea on the armed robbery charges.

He is being held on $250,000 cash bail at the Strafford County jail. 
If convicted, Drake could face up to 20 years in prison with a 
mandatory minimum sentence of three years, said Strafford County 
Prosecutor Brian Lee.

Eliot Police Chief Theodor Short said he believes Drake is 
responsible for the armed robbery at the Eliot Dunkin' Donuts on 
Sunday evening. Short said Eliot police made this determination after 
department detectives interviewed Drake.

"Currently, we are working with State Police on that investigation 
and hopefully will have warrants issued within a week," said Short.

At the arraignment, Lee described Drake as a "truly desperate 
individual ... who will stop at nothing to support his crack cocaine 
habit." On the night of the incident, said Lee, Drake told police he 
committed a Somersworth robbery to pay for drugs. Drake was 
previously out on bail for an unrelated domestic violence charge, one 
of the conditions being he cannot possess a deadly weapon, Lee said.

Dover District Court Judge Steve Roberts said Drake allegedly walked 
into the Waroeng Indonesian Restaurant on Route 108 in Somersworth 
around 7 p.m. Tuesday brandishing a loaded handgun. He allegedly told 
a customer and employee, "Give me the money and no one gets hurt," 
and then fled on foot with $341 in cash.

Around 10 the same night, Brake walked into the Dunkin' Donuts at the 
Lee traffic circle, showed a gun and again told the cashier to give 
him the money and no one would get hurt, said Lee Police Chief Chet 
Murch. Drake allegedly left the Dunkin' Donuts in a green Honda 
Accord with an undisclosed amount of cash.

"About 30 seconds later," a Lee police officer pulled Drake over on 
Route 4 because he had covered his rear license plate with duct tape, 
said Murch.

According to police reports, the officer pursued Drake down Route 4 
while State Police units were dispatched out of Epping to assist with 
the chase. The troopers caught up with Drake's vehicle in Durham as 
it headed toward Dover. Police set up a road block along Back River 
Road, but Drake allegedly hit a cruiser, passed through the "stop 
sticks," and continued into Dover.

Drake then turned onto Dover Point Road and he brandished a gun at 
the troopers, police said. As he headed back toward Route 4, Drake 
allegedly rammed two cruisers that were attempting to slow him down. 
Police said they eventually surrounded Drake's car, the three 
vehicles collided and came to a stop at Route 4 and Madbury Road.

The revolver allegedly used in the robbery was found in his car, police said.

Drake is scheduled to appear in Dover District Court for a probable 
cause hearing on Dec. 5. He is also scheduled to appear in Durham 
District Court on Dec. 8 to face one of the charges of disobeying an officer.

Lee said the courts will likely try to consolidate all the charges 
into one trial. He also said, "There is a chance there will be 
additional charges."
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MAP posted-by: Beth