Nashua Police 'Granite Shield' Sweep: Heroin, Crack Charges

NASHUA, NH — Four suspects were arrested in the latest Nashua police "Granite Shield" crime sweep, authorities announced Monday. The suspects were charged with crimes involving heroin and crack cocaine, among other alleged offenses. The arrests were part of an ongoing series of Nashua police drug sweeps under the "Granite Shield" program, a state-funded initiative targeting opioid distribution in communities like Nashua, Manchester, Portsmouth and Salem.

The sweep resulted in "individuals ... arrested for various drug crimes, and various crimes frequently associated with criminal behavior related to drug activity," Nashua police Lieutenant Brian Kenney said in a statement. The sweep was conducted Friday. These are the suspects and their charges:

Joshua Cook, 20, of Manchester, was charged with heroin possession, marijuana possession and driving after suspension. He was held on $5,000 bail.

Bret Cooper, 50, of Nashua, was charged with being a common nuisance for "controlling a residence which was resorted to by drug-dependent persons for the purpose of using controlled drugs or which was used for the illegal keeping or selling of the controlled drugs," police said. He was held on $5,000 bail.

Shannon Presutti, 39, with no fixed address, was arrested on a warrant for failure to appear in court related a drug charge. She was held without bail.

Matthew Belanger, 43, of Nashua, was charged with crack cocaine possession and held on $5,000 bail.

All suspects were scheduled for arraignments Monday in Nashua District Court. It was the third "Granite Shield" sweep so far this month.

Photo: Suspects arrested in a Nashua police "Granite Shield" crime sweep January 26, 2018. From left to right: Joshua Cook, Bret Cooper, Shannon Presutti and Matthew Belanger. (Credit: Nashua Police Department)

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