The quiet of Newmarket, NH, was shattered last night when an armed suspect triggered a tense standoff with local authorities, leading to a shelter in place order for downtown residents. According to NBC Boston, the ordeal began with a welfare check request from a concerned family member who reported an abrupt end to a phone call with her mother following an argument. Newmarket police subsequently made contact with the mother, who confirmed she had been the victim of domestic assault.
As the investigation unfolded, reports surfaced of the suspect's presence at a downtown business. "A short time later, police were dispatched to a local downtown business where the same suspect had reportedly arrived, brandished a firearm, and made threats," the Newmarket police explained in a statement obtained by WHDH News. Fleeing into a large mill complex, the suspect, identified as Mark Allen McLean, 59, of Newmarket, threatened self-harm and seemed intent on provoking a confrontation with law enforcement.
Throughout the night, a heavy police presence, including officers from surrounding towns and a regional SWAT team, descended upon the area to assist in the search, as residents remained indoors following police directives. Main Street was closed off to traffic, and the search for McLean continued well into the early morning hours. In an update on Facebook, Newmarket police advised residents of the ongoing operation, stating on NBC Boston, "Residents in the area can expect to hear drones, K9 teams, and police units making announcements over loudspeakers."
Finally, just after 4 a.m., the police located McLean hiding inside an apartment in the mill complex where he did not reside. "Officers located McLean hiding inside an apartment in the mill complex where he did not reside," Newmarket police reported on WHDH News, following a brief struggle, they were able to take him into custody and transported to a hospital as a precaution. They made the arrest and transported him to a hospital as a precaution. McLean is now facing a slew of charges, including four counts of domestic violence assault, robbery, and resisting arrest.
