Rochester man reportedly pointed gun at motorists during Somersworth incident

James Corbett (Strafford County Jail photo)

SOMERSWORTH - A Rochester man who reportedly pointed a loaded pistol at passing motorists on High Street in Somersworth Thursday was later arrested by Somersworth Police.

James Corbett, 48, of Rochester was taken into custody a short time later after a witness told police that the suspect was in the vicinity of Dover Marine, located at 17 New Rochester Road, in Dover just over the Somersworth line.

The terrifying incident unfolded around 12:50 p.m. when police were told that the subject, who was said to be despondent, was shouting obscenities and pointing his weapon at motorists in the vicinity of the AT&T Mobility Store on High Street.

Upon arrival officers learned that the male subject had fled into the woods behind the store toward the City of Dover, according to Somersworth Police Captain Matthew Duvall.

While searching the area for Corbett, a Somersworth Officer encountered him walking on the sidewalk with the firearm still in his hand, in Dover.

"When confronted Corbett ran behind a residence off of Route 108 toward the Willand Pond recreation area, Duval said. "Dover and Somersworth Officers set up a perimeter and quickly located Corbett on the water's edge."

Somersworth and Dover Officers then negotiated with Corbett for around three hours before he peacefully surrendered and was safely taken into custody by members of the Strafford County Regional Tactical Operations Unit.

Prior to his arrest Corbett, when removing his firearm, appeared to have discharged it into the ground. but with the utilization of a drone unit, it was quickly determined that the discharge was accidental, which was immediately relayed to all officers in the area, according to Duval.

Corbett was charged with Reckless Conduct with a Deadly Weapon (Felony B) and Resisting Arrest or Detention (Misd. A). He was held on Preventative Detention pending an arraignment sometime today at the Dover District Court.

Somersworth Police would like to thank the assistance of the Dover Police Department, the New Hampshire State Police and the Strafford County Regional Tactical Operations Unit, which brought this highly volatile incident to a nonviolent conclusion.