A 64-year-old man is facing felony charges stemming from a police standoff in Peterborough on Tuesday evening. Residents of Keenan Drive were alarmed when John Fortin, armed with a rifle, threatened his neighbors, which prompted a police response that included an eviction order for local residents.
According to police reports, Fortin was creating a disturbance around 6 p.m. on March 18, 2025, yelling threats at neighbors in the vicinity. Law enforcement quickly identified the situation as an "active emergency" and initiated a response protocol that aimed to secure the immediate area.
As part of this protocol, police urged surrounding residents to either evacuate or shelter in place to ensure their safety while negotiations were initiated with Fortin. The negotiation phase commenced around 11 p.m. that evening, indicating the tense situation had persisted for several hours.
In a twist of events, Fortin reportedly approached a team of SWAT members during negotiations, prompting one member to fire a nonlethal round that knocked him to the ground. Following this, a New Hampshire State Police K-9 was deployed in the hope of subduing the suspect. However, reports indicate that Fortin began to fight with the K-9, escalating the situation once more.
Subsequently, officers responded by deploying a stun gun, which ultimately allowed them to take Fortin into custody. He was first transported to Monadnock Community Hospital and later transferred to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center for a health evaluation.
Currently, Fortin remains in police custody and has now been charged with four felony counts of criminal threatening with a deadly weapon. According to the latest updates, law enforcement officials have indicated that additional charges may arise as investigations continue.
John Fortin is scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, which will likely provide further revelations regarding the events that unfolded during this alarming incident.
As the community reflects on the distressing situation, questions linger about how such aggressive confrontations can be averted in the future in neighborhoods similar to Peterborough.
