Driver Allegedly Hits, Traps Portsmouth Man With Vehicle

Portsmouth police made the following arrests recently. 

• James Cotta, 50, of 3 North Drive, Portsmouth, was arrested on Thursday, Aug. 1, at 8 a.m. and charged with felony assault. The arrest stems from an earlier argument on Bristol Ferry Road. Police say Cotta was driving on Bristol Ferry Road just as a 39-year-old Portsmouth man was exiting his Bristol Ferry Road driveway in his own vehicle. According to police, a confrontation occurred as the vehicles were operating. Both men pulled the vehicles into the nearby Sunny Acres trailer park. As the 39-year-old man exited his vehicle, Cotta allegedly pulled his vehicle into Sunny Acres and struck the man in the leg with the car, pinning the man between Cotta's car and his own. There were no serious injuries. Cotta left the area soon after. Police obtained an affidavit arrest warrant for Cotta, who was arrested at his home Thursday.

• Allison Lalli, 22, of 56 Lowell Drive, Portsmouth, was arrested on Aug. 2 at 9 pm. after an argument with a 56-year-old Portsmouth man. During the argument, Lalli allegedly struck the man in the head with a remote control. She also allegedly took a glass bottle and threw it at the man, but missed. She was arrested and charged with domestic, simple assault, and domestic, disorderly conduct. 

• Erik Richter, 19, of 95 Willow Lane, Portsmouth, was arrested on Aug. 3 at 4:30 a.m. and charged with the following: driving under the influence, eluding police, and possession of alcohol. An officer on West Main Road at Turkey Hill observed a car driving 75 mph in a 45-mph zone. The officer turned on his lights and followed the vehicle onto Cory's Lane, where the suspect's vehicle accelerated. The car pulled into the Portsmouth Abbey entrance to the hockey rink, at which time the vehicle couldn't go further. The suspect, Richter, then fled on foot. After a short foot chase, Richter was apprehended. Officers observed a strong aroma of alcohol and slurred speech. Richter reportedly refused a field sobriety test and was brought to headquarters, where he failed a chemical test. His Blood Alcohol Count was recorded at .202 and .192. During a vehicle search, police located a bottle of Captain Morgan Long Island Ice Tea in the trunk of the vehicle.