Hudson Man Accused Of Strangulation Of Female Acquaintance: Nashua PD

NASHUA, NH — A Hudson man was arrested in Pelham Monday after being accused of multiple domestic assaults — including strangulation — of a female acquaintance, the Nashua Police Department said.

Richard Rousseau, 23, was arrested the same day a witness said they observed him assaulting a woman in a parking lot in Nashua.

Rousseau has been charged with second-degree assault (strangulation)-domestic violence, a Class B felony, domestic violence-obstructing the reporting of a crime, a Class A misdemeanor, domestic violence false imprisonment, a Class A misdemeanor, and five counts of domestic violence-simple assault, a Class A misdemeanor, according to police.

A Class B felony is punishable by up to seven and a half years in state prison, exclusive of fines, and each Class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to one year in the county jail, exclusive of fines.

Nashua police said Rousseau was held on preventative detention and was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday at the Hillsborough County Superior Court-Southern District.

According to police reports, at approximately 7:37 a.m. Monday, the Nashua PD's Uniform Field Operations Bureau responded to a local business for a reported domestic violence-related assault.

Police said a witness reported seeing a woman being assaulted by a man in a parking lot. The witness was able to separate the man and woman before calling the police, the Nashua PD said.

The man fled the area prior to police arriving, according to Nashua police.

Nashua police identified the male suspect as Rousseau. The department's Special Investigations Division determined that Rousseau had allegedly assaulted the suspect on multiple occasions, according to police.

As a result of the investigation, detectives established probable cause to charge Rousseau with domestic violence offenses, according to authorities.

The Nashua PD said a broadcast was sent out to other local agencies requesting assistance in locating and arresting the suspect.

The Pelham Police Department located Rousseau and placed him under arrest without incident, police said.