DOVER POLICE CHIEF WANTS DORMITORY FORFEITED

DOVER - Dover Police Chief William Fenniman said he is asking the U.S.
Attorney's Office to seize the McIntosh College dormitory on Silver Street
under federal drug forfeiture laws.

The action comes as Dover police and the New Hampshire Attorney General's
Drug Task Force wrapped up a two-month investigation involving undercover
drug transactions. Nine current or former McIntosh students are facing
charges of drug sales or drug possession.

Fenniman went so far as to describe the dormitory at 181 Silver St. as the
"headquarters" of the illicit activity.

"We have been consulting with the U.S. Attorney's Office and developing
evidence to determine whether or not we can seize the dormitory under the
federal crack house statute. Those meetings are continuing this week,"
Fenniman said.

Police already made one presentation to a criminal prosecutor in the office
of U.S. Attorney Thomas Colantuono and another meeting is planned for
Thursday with lawyers from both the civil and criminal divisions, Fenniman
said.

Jean Weld, an assistant U.S. attorney who handles forfeiture claims, said
such action could involve either the leaseholder or landlord, but they
would have to turn a blind eye to drug activity for the property to be
forfeited. A forfeiture would take place in a federal civil proceeding in
which the government burden of proof is on the government.

Weld said she could neither confirm nor deny if the U.S. Attorney's Office
was getting involved in this particular case.

McIntosh President David McGuire said he was unaware of Fenniman's actions
regarding the property. He has said the school has made efforts to improve
its relationship with its neighbors, including an increase in security and
the number of live-in directors at the dormitory.

McGuire also said the school's security staff has also provided police with
tips on illegal drug activity, one as recently as two weeks ago.

Fenniman acknowledged that information was received, but described it as
"vague" and said he was "skeptical of the timing."

Fenniman acknowledged that starting a forfeiture proceeding against a
college dormitory would be an extraordinary action, and there would be
"legal hurdles."

"But we think we can get over them," Fenniman said.