NH man arrested twice in 3 hours for damaging local store, police say

Lina PortmanMay 26, 2024

11 2 minutes read

A New Hampshire man was arrested twice in three hours, accused of damaging a town store and then driving a car through the building's front doors. Richard Ruddy, 35, of Lancaster, was arrested in connection with two incidents at the Big Apple Store on Main Street late Thursday evening, according to police. “This business is our only 24-hour business in town, and with the holiday weekend, they're going to lose a lot of money,” said Lancaster Police Chief Jonathan Woodworth. Police said surveillance video shows Ruddy talking to a cashier when he entered the store around 10 p.m. Thursday before he began throwing items and shoving shelves. “We don’t know what caused him to have that reaction,” Woodworth said. “Everything he could grab, he threw. He made a really big mess.” Police arrived five minutes after the employee pressed a panic button. Police said Ruddy threw a carton of cigarettes at an officer, but he was later arrested and charged with criminal mischief. Ruddy was released on bail with specific conditions that he not return to the Big Apple Store. But police said that after Ruddy was released Thursday night, he returned to the store. Woodworth said police spotted him near the gas pumps, but when they approached, he burst through the store's doors. “Unfortunately, it’s the holiday weekend and this store is going to be closed for several days,” Woodworth said. Ruddy was arrested again and taken into custody. “As long as he’s in custody, I can say he poses no danger to society,” Woodworth said. “Everyone is safe from this individual as long as he is detained.”

LANCASTER, New Hampshire —

A New Hampshire man was arrested twice in three hours, accused of damaging a town store and then driving a car through the building's front doors.

Richard Ruddy, 35, of Lancaster, was arrested in connection with two incidents at the Big Apple Store on Main Street Thursday evening, according to police.

“This case is our only business in town 24 hours a day, and with the holiday weekend, they're going to lose a lot of money,” said Lancaster Police Chief Jonathan Woodworth.

Police said surveillance video shows Ruddy talking to a store cashier around 10 p.m. Thursday before he began throwing items and pushing at shelves.

“We don’t know what caused him to react like that,” Woodworth said. “Everything he could grab, he threw. He made a really big mess.”

Police arrived five minutes after the employee pressed a panic button. Police said Ruddy threw a carton of cigarettes at a police officer, but he was later arrested and charged with criminal mischief.

Ruddy was released on bail on specific conditions: he will not return to the Big Apple Store.

But police said that after his release Thursday evening, Ruddy returned to the store. Woodworth said police spotted him near the gas pumps, but when they approached, he burst through the store's doors.

Big Apple Store

Police said surveillance video shows Richard Ruddy, 35, of Lancaster, New Hampshire, damaging merchandise inside the Big Apple Store in Lancaster on May 23, 2024. Police also said that within a few hours, Ruddy had returned to convenience. store after being released and ended up crashing a car into the store's front doors while trying to flee from police.

“Unfortunately, it’s the holiday weekend and this store is going to be closed for several days,” Woodworth said.

Ruddy was arrested again and taken into custody.

“As long as he’s in custody, I can say he poses no danger to society,” Woodworth said. “Everyone is safe from this individual as long as he is detained.”