Operation Granite Shield Strikes Salem; 9 Arrested

SALEM, NH — Salem, like many other communities on Feb. 15, 2018, held an Operation Granite Shield drug sweep in town and made nine arrests, according to Capt. Joel Dolan of the Salem Police Department. Picked up during the sweep were Craig Golden, 26, center, of Manchester, on a warrant for possession of controlled drug, transporting drugs, and a probation violation; Todd Wilbur, 34, of Derry, lower left, was charged with possession of controlled drug-heroin, falsifying physical evidence, and transporting drugs; Joanne Pease, 49, upper middle, of Litchfield, for possession of controlled drug-heroin and transporting drugs; Richard Pease Jr., 27, left middle, of Litchfield, for possession of controlled drug-heroin and transporting drugs; Christopher Cowenhoven, upper left, 34, of York, ME, for possession of controlled drug-heroin and falsifying physical evidence; Juan Tejeda-Jiminez, 27, right middle, of Salem, sale of a controlled drug and possession of controlled drug-heroin; George Degraan, 44, upper right, of Nashua, for possession of controlled drug and transporting drugs; and Jon Michaud, 25, lower right, of Hudson, on two counts of possession of a controlled drug-heroin and Adderall.

Editor's Note: This post was derived from info supplied by the Salem Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the name removal request process for New Hampshire’s Patch police reports.

Along with Salem Police, New Hampshire State Police, the U.S. DEA, and other communities were involved in what Dolan described as “a large scale operation, throughout the state, to combat the amount of opioids being distributed in New Hampshire.” In Salem, police allegedly shut down a large scale drug operation, seized 141 Oxycodone pills, 80 grams of heroin, and approximately $31,000.

Golden, Pease, Pease, and Michaud will be arraigned on Feb. 23. Wilbur Cowenhoven, Tejeda-Jiminez, and Degraan will be arraigned today.

Images via Salem Police.