Former Concord Police officer Richard Cobb is accused of assaulting two people while on duty a year ago.

A Merrimack County Grand Jury charged Cobb with four misdemeanor counts of simple assault by an on-duty law enforcement officer.

The indictments say Cobb “knowingly caused unprivileged contact” with two individuals on March 26, 2023, and twice to the same individual on April 1, 2023, according to New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella. 

Someone can be found guilty of simple assault if they purposely, recklessly or negligently cause bodily injury to another person, of if they cause physical contact without permission with someone else.

When committed by an on-duty law enforcement officer, each count of simple assault is punishable by an enhanced sentence of up to 2-to-5 years in state prison and a $2,000 fine, according to the attorney general.

Cobb, who was a patrol officer in the Concord Police Department, was hired by the city in 2017, according to public records.

An arraignment and bail hearing are scheduled to be held on April 5 at the Merrimack County Superior Court in Concord.

The case was handled by the New Hampshire Department of Justice with the cooperation of the Concord Police Department.  The charges against Richard Cobb are only allegations, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty, Formella said.