Shain Sargent, age 25, of Merrimack

MERRIMACK – Officers who responded to a local residence for a report of an argument between family members ended up arresting one of them after he allegedly took a car without permission and drove it while drunk, police said.

Shain A. Sargent, 25, whose street address wasn’t provided by police, was charged with one count each of operating under the influence of liquor and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle upon being taken into custody where officers had pulled over the vehicle.

Police said Sargent agreed to “participate in voluntary field sobriety tests,” but he failed them.

He was subsequently transported to police headquarters, where he was booked on the charges and later released on personal recognizance bail.

But when a person described only as a member of his family arrived at police headquarters to pick him up, Sargent allegedly began threatening the family member, triggering a disturbance that played out in the station in front of officers, police said.

Officers promptly quelled the disturbance, then arrested him for the second time within hours, this time charging him with one count each of criminal threatening and disorderly conduct.

Sargent’s bail status on the second arrest was described by police as “personal recognizance/protective custody,” which could mean he either was released on personal recognizance or held in protective custody.

Either way, Sargent is scheduled to appear in Merrimack district court on Jan. 26 for arraignment on all four charges.

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