Concord, NH - This past week’s “Fugitive of the Week," Thomas Kent Drake, 27, was arrested after fleeing through the woods from a relative’s house in New Hampton, NH. Drake was wanted on a Grafton County Sheriff’s Office arrest warrant for probation violations stemming from his original narcotics related charges.
As part of this investigation, Drake had just been featured as the “Fugitive of the Week" this past Wednesday morning. This feature was aired on WTPL-FM, WMUR-TV, The Union Leader, The Nashua Telegraph, The Patch, Foster’s Daily Democrat, Manchester Information, the Manchester Ink Link, The Rochester Voice and prominently featured on the internet. The “Fugitive of the Week" has been a very successful tool that has resulted in the location and arrest of numerous fugitives since its implementation in 2007. Additionally, the “Fugitive of the Week" is distributed statewide to all law enforcement officers.
After being featured as the “Fugitive of the Week," the U.S. Marshals - NH Joint Fugitive Task Force actively tracked down leads throughout the Lakes Region and into Grafton County. Several sightings of Drake were reported to law enforcement throughout the area. After a long search, the task force, along with several local police departments focused their efforts at a relative’s house in the 50 block of Route 132 in New Hampton, NH. Upon arrival at this residence, officers immediately observed Drake as he fled into the woods. A search was conducted utilizing a Bristol Police Department K-9 “Arrow" and his handler. The K-9 search caused Drake to flee further, but was captured by members of task force on the other side of the wood line.
This arrest was truly the cooperative efforts of numerous law enforcement agencies including, several members of the US Marshals - NH Joint Fugitive Task Force from the Belknap, Strafford & Rockingham County Sheriff’s Offices, the Greenfield Police Department, deputy US Marshals, along with officers from the Bristol, Alexandria, Danbury & the New Hampton Police Departments that assisted in tracking down Mr. Drake and arresting him on his outstanding arrest warrant. Drake was turned over to the Bristol Police Department for processing on his outstanding arrest warrant and he will be held at the Grafton County Jail pending his initial court appearance at a later date.
