Charges against Dover officer’s wife disputed

DOVER – The Dover Police Department announced it is conducting an “internal investigation” into the conduct of one of its officers in connection with an incident at his Rollinsford home late Friday night.

Rollinsford police arrested Sarah Letendre, 34, and charged her with domestic violence simple assault, obstructing report of crime and resisting arrest.

Her husband is a Dover police officer.

She was arrested at about 11 p.m. Friday at the couple’s home, Rollinsford police said.

But in a Facebook post, Sarah Letendre claimed her husband, “who is a Dover police officer and former MMA (mixed martial arts) fighter, broke four of my ribs” during the incident.

“I was arrested,” she added in the Facebook post.

She did not immediately respond to a request for further comment via Facebook Tuesday.

The Dover officer has not been charged in connection with the incident.

The Dover Police Department released a statement Tuesday in response to questions from Foster’s Daily Democrat. The statement, which had Chief William Breault’s name attached when the department posted it online, acknowledges being “aware of allegations regarding the officer’s conduct that have been posted on social media.”

Because of that, Dover police are “conducting an internal investigation and will take action if it is determined that the officer violated departmental policies,” police said in the statement, also stating Rollinsford police are investigating the incident and it “will be reviewed by the Strafford County Attorney’s Office regarding any criminal conduct committed by those involved.”

“The Dover Police Department is committed to making every effort to ensure that its employees are fit to provide top-quality professional law enforcement service to the community,” the statement reads. “An important part of that effort is the thorough, fair, and expeditious resolution of complaints received from the public.”

The police statement added, “It is critical that all relevant and pertinent information be obtained prior to a determination being made so that appropriate and just action can be taken where that need has been identified.”

Sarah Letendre’s sister, Jess Newman, started a GoFundMe online fundraising page for her little sister, which had raised more than $8,000 for her sister’s legal defense by Tuesday evening.

During an interview Tuesday, Newman described her sister as a “great mother” who’s “heartbroken because she can’t see her kids.”

The couple’s children are 5 and 2½, Newman said.

Rollinsford Police Chief Robert Ducharme sent out a press release Monday asking for the public’s help in locating Sarah Letendre.

Following her arrest late Friday and subsequent release, Rollinsford police stopped her vehicle early Saturday morning , alleging she violated a protective order for contacting her husband, they said.

As an officer attempted to arrest her and remove her from the vehicle, she sped off, according to Ducharme.

“Fortunately the officer released his grip on her and was not injured as a result,” Ducharme wrote in the release.

A warrant was obtained for Sarah Letendre on the following charges: reckless conduct, violation of a protective order, resisting arrest, disobeying a police officer and breach of bail conditions.

Reached late Tuesday afternoon, Ducharme said Sarah Letendre had not yet turned herself in to police.

Asked about Sarah Letendre’s claims that her husband broke four of her ribs, Ducharme said, “All I can confirm is she went to the hospital and was evaluated.”

He declined to share any more details about the incident, saying the case is still “under investigation.”

“I’m kind of hoping she’ll make arrangements to turn herself in and go forward with the legal process,” the police chief said.

He does not believe police had been called to the home before Friday’s incident.

Newman said her sister is in the process of trying to hire a criminal defense attorney.

Newman serves in the military and is stationed in Virginia and her travel is restricted because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The sisters’ family is from a small community in the Franconia and Bethlehem area in New Hampshire, Newman said.

Moving forward, her sister “needs resources and she needs fairness and she needs the scales to be balanced,” Newman said.

In terms of the support her sister has already received through the GoFundMe page, Newman said, “I think that people know her and know her heart and know she’s a kind and caring person, no matter how flawed she may be.”

The Dover police officer’s name is not published in this story because it is alleged he is the victim of domestic violence and he has not been charged with a crime.