NH liquor commissioner is charged with driving while intoxicated after field sobriety test

NH state liquor commissioner charged with DWI

GILFORD, N.H. — One of New Hampshire’s state liquor commissioners has been charged with driving while intoxicated.

The police chief of the town of Gilford says Richard Simard was stopped around 11:30 Saturday night after Laconia police alerted them to a possibly intoxicated driver.

Gilford Chief John Markland says his officers did a field sobriety test. Simard refused to submit a breath test.

Simard was released on $1,000 personal recognizance bond and is due in court May 6.

Markland described it as a routine DWI stop but says his officers knew about Simard’s position.

Gov. John Lynch removed Simard from his job Monday. Lynch says Simard should be considered innocent until proven guilty, but it’s unacceptable for a liquor commissioner to refuse a breathalyzer test.