Warren J. Helm, Charles S. Merritt IV, Orlando Rodriguez & Dustin B. Martell

Shot a dog in the face in the commission of a home invasion

Dover, NH

July 13, 2006

4 men are suspected in a drug-related home invasion which left 3 people stabbed and a dog shot in the face.

Police arrested Warren J. Helm, age 20 of Westgate Drive, and Charles S. Merritt IV, age 17 in connection with the case.  2 Un-named males are still at large.

The 3 people were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.  The dog, a 100 pound, 9 year old mixed breed survived the gunshot.

The home invaders and the house’s occupants were acquaintance.  Helm, age 20, of  3 Westgate Drive in Dover, NH is believed to be the one who fired 2 shots during a struggle with the occupants and hitting only the dog.  He is charged with felony burglary.  Merritt, age 17, of 57 Maples St. in Dover, NH is charged with felony burglary and felony assault.  Both were arraigned on 7/14/06 and held on $100,000 cash bail.  Helm is also being held on outstanding warrants for misdemeanor assault and reckless conduct in a domestic disturbance on June 30, 2006, during which he allegedly struck his girlfriend and was subsequently locked out of their home. Helm then allegedly pushed an air conditioner into the home and onto his 1-year-old son’s leg.

(Photo courtesy of Clynton Namuo, the Union Leader)   Verne Leeper, led 3 of the 4 men upstairs - a struggled ensued and he was stabbed in the shoulder.  Leeper now keeps machetes in his living room in case of more attacks.

(photo courtesy of Clynton Namuo, The Union Leader) The home at 23 Durrell St. is owned by a Maine-based landlord.  The occupants have lived in the home for only a few months.

Update 7/18/06:

Orlando Rodriguez, age 19, formerly of 19 Belknap St., Dover has also been arrested in the home break-in.  Rodriguez has been charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery with a firearm and accomplice to armed robbery with a firearm.  He is scheduled to be arraigned, with a pretrial conference in Straffford County Superior Court on 10/31/06.

Update  10/11/06:

    

Dustin Martell             Charles S. Merritt   (photos courtesy of Foster's Daily Democrat)

Dustin B. Martell, age 18 of Rochester has been identified as the 4th suspect in this home invasion case.

Martell and Merritt plead not guilty to multiple felony charges.  Merritt was handed up indictments last month charging him with conspiracy to commit armed robbery with a firearm, burglary at night with a firearm, 3 counts of 1st degree assault and criminal threatening with a deadly weapon, each punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Helm and Rodriguez have been charged in connection with the invasion, but have not yet been arraigned.

Rodriguez is accused of supplying Helm with a .25 caliber hand gun, which was used to shoot the dog. Rodriguez is scheduled for a pretrial conference on 10/31/06.

Martell, Merritt, Rodriguez & Helm are all being held on high cash bail at The Strafford County Jail.

Martell, has an extensive criminal record, and also awaits trial on a previous charge of conspiracy as an alleged accomplice in an assault and kidnapping that began in Dover and ended in Newington in December, 2005.  He has been charged with 1 count of accomplice to armed robbery with a firearm.

Update 10/17/06:

Warren J. Helm plead not guilty to a number of related felony charges on 10/16/06.  Helm is charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery with a firearm, burglary, criminal threatening with a deadly weapon & reckless conduct.  He is not charged with animal cruelty.  He is being held on $100,000 cash bail which is double the amount the prosecutor requested.

Reference:

The Manchester Union Leader

Fosters Daily Democrat