Officer in stable condition after being struck by car Thursday night at Weirs

Mayor Andrew Hosmer, right, lauds the professionalism of Laconia's first responders following the attempted capital murder of Officer John Skehan at a media event Friday afternoon, as Police Chief Matt Canfield looks on. GABRIEL PERRY—The Laconia Daily Sun photo
Published: 08-26-2024 10:33 AM |
WEIRS BEACH — A man accused of intentionally hitting a Laconia police officer with a car Thursday night is charged with attempted capital murder. Officer John Skehan was in stable condition as of Friday afternoon, police say.
Justin A. Spirko, 38, waived his right to arraignment Friday morning at Laconia District Court. Spirko is charged in the murder attempt following a chaotic scene during which police say he attempted to kill and did seriously injure Skehan after police responded to a disturbance at Sun Valley Cottages on Endicott Street North around 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Skehan was transported to Concord Hospital-Concord and treated for serious injuries to his lower leg. He was in stable condition Friday and undergoing surgery.
“Last night was a very difficult time for our entire department and I very much appreciate the thoughts and prayers of everyone in the community last night who reached out,” Police Chief Matt Canfield said Friday afternoon.
Officer Erica Beliveau, who’s served the city for just over a year, arrived to the Sun Valley Cottages around 7:25 p.m. Thursday after police received reports of a disturbance involving a dispute between neighbors, Canfield said.
The initial report indicated Spirko was intoxicated and threatened a neighbor. It’s not known if Spirko, whose residence was last listed in Londonderry, was living at Sun Valley Cottages.
“This situation was a very fluid and dynamic situation,” Canfield said. “It’s still an ongoing and very active investigation.”
Beliveau was the first officer to respond to the call and approached the cottage on foot. A caller reported to police Spirko was located inside a parked car — later to be identified as a Honda CRV — and was the only occupant.
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When Beliveau arrived, Spirko put the vehicle into drive and accelerated quickly toward her, causing Beliveau to jump out of the way to avoid being hit. Spirko continued onto Endicott Street North, traveling southbound toward the Weirs.
Moments after Beliveau arrived at the scene, Skehan, who has been on the force for over five years and has familial connections throughout the area, was standing outside his parked police vehicle. Spirko allegedly veered right, crossing into the breakdown lane and ultimately striking the left side of the cruiser before striking Skehan himself.
“The suspect was extremely uncooperative with officers on the scene,” Canfield said. “He continued to fight and resist the efforts of officers to take him into custody.”
Once officers arrested Spirko — State Police and the Gilford Police Department assisted Laconia police at the scene — he was transported to Concord Hospital-Laconia and treated for minor injuries.
Spirko is held without bail at the county jail and is charged with one count of attempted capital murder of a police officer; one count of attempted first-degree murder; one count of attempted second-degree murder; one count of felony criminal threatening; two counts of misdemeanor criminal threatening; one count of felony driving under the influence of intoxicants; one count of misdemeanor criminal mischief; one count of misdemeanor simple assault; two counts of misdemeanor resisting arrest; and two counts of felony reckless conduct.
“Please make no mistake — this was a very intentional and malicious criminal act of violence against one of our police officers and is quite simply unconscionable,” Canfield said. “We are fully committed to ensuring that he will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law in partnership with the Belknap County Attorney’s Office.”
Spirko, who was given a one-year suspended sentence stemming from an incident in Belmont when he apparently threatened officers with a crossbow, is set to appear before a judge at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 28, for a probable cause hearing. Canfield said Friday while county officials would make the ultimate decision about Spirko’s suspended sentence in the Belmont case, his department would support the county in imposing it.
“That’s certainly the decision of the Belknap County Attorney’s Office,” Canfield said. “We would certainly support that as a recommendation.”
Canfield said Friday he didn’t know if Spirko had any personal connection to either of the officers involved in the case, or if Spirko was known to the officers in another way. When asked if Spirko, who’s been previously implicated in cases where he is alleged to have threatened officers, harbored a hatred of the police, Canfield said he didn’t know.
Police officials have body-worn camera footage of the alleged crime and are reviewing it, but will not release it, citing the integrity of the ongoing investigation. Beliveau was not injured in the incident and neither were any bystanders at the scene.
At a press conference held Friday afternoon at the Laconia Police Department, Mayor Andrew Hosmer said the thoughts and strength of the community stand behind Skehan.
“On behalf of the City of Laconia, our thoughts, our spirit and our community strength are with John Skehan and his family right now and will be there, certainly during this long road of recovery,” Hosmer said. “This violent attack on one of our police officers is a sober reminder of the inherent risk of law enforcement. The risk assumed by our men and women when they put their uniform on or when they attach their badge is something that deserves the utmost respect.”
Noting the nature of residents of Laconia, Hosmer said people come together and support the pursuit of justice.
“When we see attacks like this on them, we, as a community, come together with strength and force to not only stand with the victims, but also stand with the rule of law — to hold people accountable,” Hosmer said.
“We should never take for granted the men and women who protect our community. Particularly in an incident like this when their life and their health can change in really the flash of a moment.”
In wishing Skehan a quick and full recovery, City Manager Kirk Beattie, who previously served Laconia as its fire chief, said incidents that directly and personally affect city employees can make it difficult for staff to remain focused on their mission. He lauded Laconia’s first responders for their ability to keep focused and treat Skehan and his family with care and compassion.
“We should all be very proud of the actions that they took last night, both during the incident and following,” Beattie said.
And Canfield said the police department would make emotional support available to its officers in the coming days.
“It’s been a strain on the department, certainly it impacts all of our officers here, but as a whole I think they’re coming together in solidarity.”