Photo by NASHUA POLICE Frederick Berard, 52, of no fixed address, Nashua

NASHUA – Frederick Berard allegedly told those at a downtown restaurant he was an undercover police detective “conducting surveillance” on a drug dealer, but employees became suspicious when he began acting “creepy.”

As it turns out, Berard, 52, has a criminal record that includes convictions for impersonating a police officer and failing to register as a sex offender in Maine – and had a warrant for his arrest in Massachusetts. He told police he recently moved to Nashua “to get a fresh start.”

Whether Berard, who lists no fixed address, started to turn things around once he got to Nashua is unknown. What is known is he is now behind bars on charges that include forgery and false personation, the latter stemming from allegations he tried to pass himself off as a narcotics detective.

Police this week arrested Berard after investigating reports from several employees and patrons at Stella Blu, the upscale East Hollis Street tapas restaurant, that a man later identified as Berard came in one night in mid-March wearing a dark-colored “Allied Barton Security” uniform with a badge, according to police reports.

Berard was also charged as a fugitive from justice, after police said they confirmed with Haverhill, Massachusetts police there was an active warrant out for Berard’s arrest in that city.

The forgery count stems from allegations he forged a $500 check in another man’s name, which he gave to a third man, who cashed the check at a downtown bank, police said.

Berard waived both formal arraignment and a bail hearing Wednesday. Per agreement of his lawyer and prosecutors, he was held on preventive detention. He reserves the right to request a bail hearing, the court noted.

Otherwise, he is next scheduled to appear in court May 30 for a dispositional hearing.

On the night Berard allegedly went to Stella Blu claiming to be a police officer, closing time was approaching when the owner, after he and others noticed the then-suspect acting suspiciously, called police.

The owner said the suspect was wearing a shirt with “security” on it and a badge, and told several people he was “following another male because he was a drug dealer,” the reports state.

The suspect soon began acting “creepy,” and was “following female restaurant patrons around,” the owner told police.

Although the suspect was gone when police arrived, their investigation, which included interviews with several employees and patrons of Stella Blu, succeeded in narrowing down potential suspects until they identified Berard as the alleged perpetrator.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256, dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com, or @Telegraph_DeanS.

Newsletter