By DAMIEN FISHER, InDepthNH.org
The Concord police officer charged with beating and strangling his wife, and then attempting to cover up the alleged crime during an investigation, is set to be released on bail.
Bryan Croft, 39, who is charged with one class B felony count of second-degree assault as well as felony charges of witness tampering and falsifying physical evidence, as well as a misdemeanor for domestic assault, has been held on preventative detention since his Jan. 22 arrest.
On Tuesday, Merrimack Superior Court Judge David Anderson ordered Croft released on electronic monitoring, with prohibitions against contacting his wife, the alleged victim of the abuse. He is also not allowed to contact his children, according to the order.
Croft allegedly strangled his wife, also a Concord police officer, during an argument on Oct. 17 over his infidelities, according to court records. The alleged victim nearly lost consciousness during the strangulation, and her 9-year-old daughter intervened to stop that assault, according to court records.
Croft had allegedly already assaulted his wife that evening, throwing her out of the house and slamming the door on her arm leaving a bruise, according to court records. Shortly before the violence started on Oct. 17, the tires on the wife’s car had been slashed, according to court records.
“The violence itself is escalating,” said Assistant Attorney General Timothy Sullivan during Tuesday’s bail hearing.
Croft’s attorney, James Moir, moved to have his client released citing his prior compliance with Division for Children, Youth and Families orders.
“He’s got a proven track record complying with orders,” Moir said.
Moir challenged the state’s characterization of Croft’s actions during the investigation. When his wife agreed to talk to investigators earlier this month, Croft was seen by Concord police parked in his car near the office where his wife was meeting with investigators. The state has said he was conducting covert surveillance on his wife, but Moir disputed that.
Moir provided text messages between Croft and his wife showing that he let her know he knew she was meeting with the investigators. Sullivan said that rather than explain away the surveillance, the text messages indicate Croft was trying to frighten and intimidate his wife.
“He’s sending her a message that he knows where she is,” Sullivan said.
Croft’s case is being referred to the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Council for possible discipline that could include suspension or total revocation of his certification to be a police officer. John Scippa, the PSTC’s executive director, said he’s been in touch with Concord Police Chief Bradley Osgood about the matter. Scippa had not heard about the alleged victim, however.
The alleged victim admitted that she lied to investigators, and helped destroy evidence in the case, according to the court records. She told investigators that she did this under fear of more violence, and she was offered assurances that she would not be prosecuted, according to court records.
Untruthfulness is considered grounds to have police certifications suspended or revoked, and it could mean that officer ends up on the state’s so-called Laurie List of dishonest officers. It is not clear if that would apply to the alleged victim.
Both Croft and the alleged victim are on leave from the Concord Police Department. He earned more than $86,000 in 2019, according to city records, and she earned more than $83,000. She did not respond to a request for comment.
