Reports of man walking around Nashua apartment complex with a firearm leads to arrest of a resident
William Baker, age 38, of 9 Bancroft St., Apt. 208, Nashua
By DEAN SHALHOUP
Senior Staff Writer
NASHUA – Police this week used eyewitness reports as well as security system images to identify a man who allegedly had been walking through common areas of his apartment complex and around the parking lots aiming a firearm at security cameras and random vehicles.
The evidence led to the arrest of William Baker, 38, of 9 Bancroft St., Apt. 208, who was taken into custody on a warrant issued for one count of reckless conduct – deadly weapon, a Class B felony, police said.
A property manager told police during their investigation that Baker is a resident of the complex, known as the Riverfront Landing Apartments, and that management had recently initiated eviction proceedings because they had been “having issues with him.”
Baker, at his subsequent Superior Court arraignment and bail hearing, was ordered held on preventive detention after the judge determined he is at risk to harm others or himself, according to the bail order.
The judge said he would consider converting Baker’s bail to personal recognizance, on the condition that Baker agrees to a mental health assessment to determine if releasing him into the community would continue to “endanger others and/or himself.”
Baker’s next court appearance is a dispositional conference currently scheduled for Oct. 21 in Superior Court.
According to police reports, Baker said in a post-arrest interview that he fired a “pepper spray gun” at the ground, but denied shooting a firearm.
He also admitted having two guns in his possession at the time of his arrest, but told police he didn’t fire either one.
Upon obtaining a warrant to search Baker’s apartment, police said they recovered a pepper spray gun, three pepper spray cartridges, holsters, and ammunition for .22 caliber and 9 mm firearms.
Police ask anyone who may have more information on the case to contact the department’s Crime Line at 589-1665.
Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.