Liberty activists have turned out in support of a bar owner whose customers are being targeted by the Weare police. Here’s the story from Weare News’ Dan O’Brien:
About 40 people gathered at Palmer’s Tavern on Saturday, July 10, to show support for George Hodgdon, the 60-year-old bar owner who was arrested July 1 for allegedly misleading a police investigation of a bar fight.
Police said the victim of the April 30 assault was Deering Selectman John Greene, 31.
Greene’s reaction to the event: “People are going to say all kinds of things now to get out of trouble.” A large segment of the Hodgdon supporters were members of the Free State Project.
They parked a camper in front of the Route 114 bar with an electronic road sign attached. The sign displayed phrases including, “Weare The Public,” “Live Free Or Die” and “Don’t Tread On Me.”
One of the supporters was state Rep. Calvin Pratt, R-Goffstown, who said he was contacted by Hodgdon shortly after his arrest.
“I have some questions about what was being done,” Pratt said. “Why was the selectman allowed to leave? Why were people held by police for three hours?”
Weare police confirmed that state police were called to assist the night of April 30 after Greene called 911 from his cell phone.
Greene said he was assaulted by at least five men, but Weare police have only arrested two on simple assault charges. Police said they haven’t gotten much cooperation from patrons at Palmer’s.
When reached Saturday, July 10, a Weare police officer said Chief Gregory Begin did not want to comment on the gathering. “The selectman came into the bar and had a beer. The next thing you know he’s pushing his chest out to a couple of guys around the pool table,” Hodgdon said.
“I asked him if there was a problem. He said, ‘no.’ I let it go,” he said.
Hodgdon said he was washing dishes moments later when someone told him a fight broke out in the parking lot.
“I see (Greene) coming up the ramp. He’s got a bloody lip and a bloody nose,” Hodgdon said.
Hodgdon said he sat Greene inside the bar and offered him assistance. He said he was going to call 911 but Greene said he already had done so on his cell phone.
Greene said Hodgdon’s version of what happened is inaccurate.
“That’s not true,” Greene said. “I was denied care. I was told I was bleeding all over the place and I needed to leave.” Greene said the fight started inside the bar and he called 911 from his phone in the parking lot.
Police said Hodgdon changed his story during the investigation and was uncooperative.
“(Hodgdon) was aware the assault had occurred, that 911 was needed and he knew who the suspects were,” police Sgt. Joe Kelly said July 1. “And he allowed the suspects to leave the scene.”
“As a bar owner, he has a duty (to report assaults) based on his liquor license,” Kelly said.
Hodgdon has been charged with hindering the apprehension of prosecution and unsworn falsification in connection with the investigation.
Hodgdon said local and state police would not let nearly 40 patrons leave the premises until each was questioned by police and had their names and identity information recorded.
Police said a handful of serious assaults have occurred at Palmer’s over the past 18 months, including an incident involving a firearm.
