Seabrook Officer Charged in Assault of Michael Bergeron

Attorney General Joseph Foster announced April 10 that Seabrook Police Officer Mark Richardson was indicted by a Rockingham County grand jury in the alleged assault of Michael Bergeron in 2009.

Richardson faces an enhanced penalty because he was on duty at the time, which carries a penalty of two- to five- years in prison and a $4,000 fine.

The indictment count reads:

"1. On November 11, 2009, Officer Mark Richardson did commit the crime of simple assault in that he did knowingly cause unprivileged physical contact to Michael Bergeron, Jr., by slamming his head into a concrete wall, and at the time he committed this assault Mark Richardson was an on-duty law enforcement officer with the Town of Seabrook."

Foster said a charge of simple assault against Officer Adam Laurent was also presented to the Rockingham County Grand Jury. "After considering the testimony and evidence presented, the Grand Jury did not indict and instead returned "No True Bill" on that charge," the attorney general announced. "Therefore, Officer Laurent will not face a criminal charge for his use of oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray against Michael Bergeron, Jr. at the Seabrook Police Department on November 11, 2009."