(Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS) One of the investigators who took part in the search of an Amherst Road home in Merrimack Tuesday morning carries a desktop computer "tower" from the house to one of the cruisers at left.

MERRIMACK — With search warrants in hand, police officers and detectives from three towns, along with sheriff’s deputies and members of the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force converged on a single-family home on Amherst Road Tuesday morning.

The involvement of the ICAC team is an indication that the search warrants had to do with allegations of child pornography possession or distribution, or a combination thereof.

The ICAC Task Force was formed in order to provide assistance to local, state and federal law enforcement agencies investigating cases of child sexual exploitation that involve the use of technology.

In addition to the sheriff’s deputies and ICAC agents, Merrimack police were joined by members of the Hooksett and Portsmouth police departments.

The reason for the other departments’ involvement on Tuesday indicates that the officers in those towns are investigating allegations that the same suspect or suspects in the Merrimack case may be connected to similar alleged incidents in their towns.

(Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS) A Merrimack police cruiser is one of several from various law enforcement agencies that parked along Amherst Road Tuesday morning as officers searched a residence.

While police were executing the search warrant Tuesday morning on Amherst Road, three people who are believed to be residents of the house were escorted outside before investigators entered.

The three stood by while officers came and went, some of them carrying bags used for the collection of evidence. Officials didn’t say what types of items they seized.

One detective was seen carrying a computer “tower,” units that are typically used with desktop computer stations. He placed it in one of the Merrimack cruisers parked on the edge of the property.

Roughly an hour after they arrived, the investigators allowed the three people to return to the home, then left the scene a short time later.

No arrests were made Tuesday, but officials said the investigation is ongoing.

(Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS) A Merrimack police officer speaks with two other investigators outside the Amherst Road residence where they executed a search warrant Tuesday morning.

Telegraph contributor Jeffrey Hastings provided reporting for this story.

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

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