Newport Police Department

09/24/2026

Vermont Man Indicted for Distribution of Child S*x Abuse Materials

A federal grand jury has indicted a 20-year-old Vermont resident on child s*xual abuse material charges following a multi-agency investigation, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announced.

Alexander Henry, 20, was charged with one count of distribution of child s*x abuse materials (CSAM). Following his arrest, Henry made his initial appearance in federal court in Vermont. He is scheduled to appear at a later date in federal court in Concord, New Hampshire.

The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to twenty years in federal prison. Sentences are determined by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and applicable federal statutes.

The charges against Henry stem from an investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), coordinated with the Newport Police Department and the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher R. Mignanelli and Matthew Vicinanzo are prosecuting the case.

The prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat child exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the DOJ's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, the project coordinates federal, state, and local law enforcement resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute offenders while identifying and rescuing victims.

An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The NH Internet Crimes Against Children - ICAC Task Force Newport Police Department

09/24/2026

PRESS RELEASE

In early September, 2026, the Newport Police Department received a Concord Regional Crimeline tip regarding the operation of Harmony Wellness Spa located on John Stark Highway in Newport. Officers conducted background research through the New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, the Newport Town Office of Planning and Zoning, and through state and federal law enforcement partners. Officers also conducted covert surveillance of the establishment and interdicted suspected criminal activity coming and going from there.

Based on all of the information gathered, officers developed probable cause to apply for a warrant to search the establishment for evidence of Trafficking in Persons and Prostitution. The warrant was issued by the Sullivan Superior Court.

On September 24, 2026, officers from the Newport Police Department, deputies from the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, and federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations executed the search warrant without incident. Any identified victims of s*x trafficking were offered medical services and other supports from the Sullivan County Attorney Victim/Witness Program. The Newport Fire Department also conducted an inspection of the facility for health and safety violations.

Interviews, evidence processing, and further follow-up investigation continues. Although no arrests have been made at this time, the Newport Police Department holds an arrest warrant for and is seeking the whereabouts of:

Jiang Xiu Yu
50 years old

The warrant charges Yu with one count of permitting a place under such person’s control to be used for the violation of RSA 645:2, Prostitution and Related Offenses. Additional arrests and charges are anticipated in the near future. Anyone with information about this investigation or the whereabouts of Yu is encouraged to contact Detective Sergeant Alexander Marvin at (603)863-3232 or [email protected].

Prepared by:
Stephen A. Lee
Chief of Police

09/24/2026

09/23/2026

UPDATED PRESS RELEASE

In follow-up to the press release issued on September 22, 2026, regarding the death of an adult male and the serious injury of an adult female on Putnam Road in Newport:

On September 23, 2026, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy of the deceased male, who was positively identified as:

Jack STEELE
27 years old
Newport, NH

The immediate cause of death was determined to be “gunshot wound to the head.” The manner of death was determined to be su***de.

The injured female continues to be listed in stable condition receiving treatment for multiple gunshot wounds. Her identity is still being withheld at this time while investigators conduct interviews to determine the full circumstances behind this incident.

Anyone with information about this incident is requested to call the Newport Police Department at (603)863-3232.

Prepared by:
Stephen A. Lee
Chief of Police

09/23/2026

PRESS RELEASE

On September 22, 2026, at approximately 6:47pm, the Newport Police Department Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call that a subject had been shot at a residence on Putnam Road in Newport. Responding officers located an adult female in the area suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. She received emergency medical treatment on scene from the Newport Fire Department, and was transported to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. She is currently in critical but stable condition.

Officers made entry into the residence and located an adult male deceased inside. At this time, all parties involved in the incident have been identified, and there is no threat to the public. The identity of both parties is currently being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

All aspects of this incident are actively under investigation. In order to preserve the integrity of the investigation at this very early stage, no further information can be released at this time. Additional press releases will be issued as more details become available.

The Newport School District has been notified of this incident, and all schools will be open as normal on Wednesday morning.

The Newport Police Department was assisted at the scene by the Claremont Police Department, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office drone unit, and New Hampshire State Police Troop C. The New Hampshire State Police Major Crimes Unit is also assisting with the processing of the scene. Anyone with information about this incident is requested to call the Newport Police Department at (603)863-3232.

Prepared by:
Stephen A. Lee
Chief of Police

09/14/2026

PRESS RELEASE

On September 12, 2026, at approximately 10:00pm, Newport Police and Fire personnel responded to the area of 72 Breakneck Road in Newport for a reported motor vehicle collision. Upon their arrival, officers discovered a Cadillac CT5 in the trees off the side of the road with heavy damage, and four injured occupants.

Emergency medical personnel treated the four occupants of the vehicle on scene, and all were transported to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center with serious bodily injuries. Two adult occupants are listed as critical, but stable. One juvenile occupant is listed as stable. Another juvenile occupant has been released from the hospital.

Investigators have identified the operator of the Cadillac as:

Dylan STANLEY
19 years old
Newport, NH

The passengers in the vehicle are not being identified at this time. All aspects of this collision are currently under investigation, including whether impairment and/or speed were contributing factors. A further press release will be issued when updates to the investigation become available.

Anyone with information about the collision, or STANLEY’s activities that evening prior to the collision, is encouraged to contact Detective Sergeant Alexander Marvin at (603)863-3232 or [email protected].

09/10/2026

***Update: service appears to be restored and our dispatch center is returning to normal operations.***

Due to a widespread outage of Fidium Fiber, non-emergency phone lines and computer networks in the dispatch center are down. If you have an emergency, please call 911 as we work to resolve the problem.

08/25/2026

Last night at the Board of Selectmen meeting, Communications Specialist William “Buddy” Russell was presented with the Newport Police Department’s Life Saving Award.

On July 5th, 2026, at approximately 1:00pm, off-duty Communications Specialist William “Buddy” Russell was with his family visiting the Corbin Covered Bridge and the Reid-Andrews Riverway, which are located at the western end of Parlin Airfield. C.S. Russell observed a Ryan Navion, which is a single engine, retractable gear airplane, coming in for a landing on Runway 30, our “grass runway.” The aircraft landed long and fast, causing it to overrun the runway. The aircraft entered the woodline and struck a group of three trees.

Upon observing the crash, C.S. Russell instructed his family members to call 911, while he immediately ran over and climbed up onto the fuselage of the airplane. C.S. Russell discovered that the pilot was injured and unconscious, and there was fuel leaking out of the center fuel tank between the pilot’s legs. The pilot, Mr. Mike Conway (in the photo on the left), attended the awards presentation and expressed his personal appreciation for C.S. Russell.

With the assistance of arriving Newport Fire Department personnel, C.S. Russell extricated the pilot from the plane before the leaking fuel could have potentially ignited and imperiled the pilot’s life.

The Newport Police Department’s Life Saving Award is presented to a member of the department whose actions were performed through disregard of their own personal safety, resulting in the saving of a life. C.S. Russell’s actions on July 5th certainly met that standard.

C.S. Russell has been a selfless public servant and employee of the Newport Police Department for nearly 30 years. He is an Air Force Veteran and almost life-long resident of Newport. His dedication to our community is evident every year during Green Up Clean Up week, when he and his children spend an entire day picking up trash.

08/06/2026

Please be advised that the Paradise Road bridge off of Sunapee Street is permanently closed to all traffic--including pedestrians--due to imminent safety concerns. The Department of Public Works has erected fencing and No Trespassing signs in the area, and video surveillance is in use. Anyone who disregards the signs and enters the closed area will be summoned or arrested for Trespassing.

08/04/2026

National Night Out has started! Come by the town common between 5:30-8:00pm for Touch a Truck, Food, Games and more!