Gonic man killed in police shootout had long history with RPD

WCVB TV Bpstpm aerial footage of the scene on Monday; lower right, cellphone video posted Austin McKenzie of Rochester.

GONIC - A man with longtime ties to Rochester and a long criminal history was gunned down in an apparent shootout with police after his car crashed into the Easy Street footwear building on Route 125 in Gonic following a brief police chase on Monday afternoon.

The shooting unfolded around 3 p.m. when police spotted Douglas Heath, 38, who they had learned last week was in possession of three firearms and "had no intention of going to jail."

About 15 minutes later Heath crashed into the corner of the Easy Street building and moments later, according to a witness who spoke to WMUR TV, Heath climbed out of the passenger door of his car gun in hand.

Attorney General Gordon MacDonald said four officers, two from the Rochester Police Department and two from State Police, were involved in the pursuit and fatal shooting of Heath.

"Mr. Heath was struck by gunfire and died at the scene," said MacDonald. "A gun was found near his body."
At this point it has not been determined which officers may have fired their weapons, MacDonald said, adding, "We are in the very early stages of this investigation."
MacDonald said Rochester police cruisers are equipped with video cameras and microphones; State Police cruisers are not.

"At least one private citizen did capture some portions of the incident by video," said MacDonald.
MacDonald said each officer involved is being placed on administrative leave and their names will be withheld for now.
An autopsy is expected to be performed on Heath on Thursday.

The troopers and officers were all evaluated and released from a local hospital.

No one else was injured in the incident.

Heath was reportedly wanted on warrants for drug trafficking and fleeing from Maine State Police.

Today Maine State Police released information on how Heath attempted to elude them back in June.

The chase originated in Sanford on June 11 when officers there spotted Heath and tried to pull him over because they knew he was wanted on drug charges out of Rochester.

State Police continued the chase for a couple of miles into Lebanon but terminated the pursuit due to public safety and because they knew who the driver was.

Heath's car was later tracked to a residence on Second Street in Lebanon where he was living at the time.

Police later learned that Heath had fled on foot and had likely been picked up by a vehicle and left the area. Meanwhile, Heath has had several skirmishes with Rochester Police, the most recent of which was an April 13 arrest - likely a traffic stop - for driving without headlamps and seven counts of illegal drug possession.

That arrest listed his home address as 12 Colby St. in Gonic.

On July 26, 2017, when he was listed as living at 20 Fairway Ave., Rochester, he was charged with criminal liability for conduct of another.

And on Dec. 11, 2016, Heath was arrested by Rochester Police on a warrant.

Anyone who witnessed what happened is asked to contact Sgt. Justin Rowe of the New Hampshire Police Major Crime Unit at 271-3636.