Police: Man Broke Phone to Prevent Assault Report

A Merrimack man was arrested early this morning when police responded to his home for a 911 hang-up. They say he broke the phone used to call police in an attempt to prevent the report of an assault.

Nicholas Coyle, 25, of 39 Back River Road, was charged with criminal mischief, obstructing the report of a crime and simple assault.

Merrimack Police say they responded to a 911 hang-up at Coyle's address at 2:44 a.m. and during a brief investigation, learned a family member had attempted to call them to report an assault but Coyle broke the phone in the process.

Coyle was released on $3,500 personal recognizance bail and was scheduled
to appear in the 9th Circuit District Division Court in Merrimack this morning.