Advertisement
Self-proclaimed sovereign citizen arrested in Grafton; stockpile of weapons seized, officials say
A Grafton man who investigators say calls himself a sovereign citizen was arrested Friday following a major fugitive operation involving state and federal officials. Authorities said 43-year-old Seamus Murphy was wanted on several warrants, including failure to appear on charges of felon in possession of a firearm and operating a motor vehicle as a habitual offender. “We’ve been looking at this guy for some time, and really realized that he’s a dangerous individual,” said Merrimack County Sheriff David Croft.According to officials, members of the U.S. Marshals Special Operations Group, the District of New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force, and the Merrimack County Sheriff’s Office executed the operation.Authorities said Murphy was located on his rural property and surrendered without incident. After the arrest, deputies executed a search warrant at Murphy’s property, where investigators say they uncovered a stockpile of weapons, including multiple firearms, 3D-printed gun parts, body armor, explosives, and ammunition. “This rumor, or, and not solid evidence, but this rumor that he has some free state or mindsets, so that, you know, anytime you got anti-government mindsets with these folks, it makes it a little bit more concerning and dangerous,” Croft said.Croft said the operation showed how teamwork between federal and local law enforcement can save lives. “This joint operation is a stark reminder of the dangerous individuals we pursue every day in Merrimack County,” Croft said. “Thanks to the swift cooperation between the U.S. Marshals, our task-force partners and our deputies, a heavily-armed suspect wanted on multiple warrants is now safely off the streets. Our community can rest easier tonight.”Murphy now faces at least a dozen charges, including eight counts of felon in possession, three counts of possession of explosives, and resisting arrest.
A Grafton man who investigators say calls himself a sovereign citizen was arrested Friday following a major fugitive operation involving state and federal officials.
Authorities said 43-year-old Seamus Murphy was wanted on several warrants, including failure to appear on charges of felon in possession of a firearm and operating a motor vehicle as a habitual offender.
Advertisement
“We’ve been looking at this guy for some time, and really realized that he’s a dangerous individual,” said Merrimack County Sheriff David Croft.
According to officials, members of the U.S. Marshals Special Operations Group, the District of New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force, and the Merrimack County Sheriff’s Office executed the operation.
Authorities said Murphy was located on his rural property and surrendered without incident.
After the arrest, deputies executed a search warrant at Murphy’s property, where investigators say they uncovered a stockpile of weapons, including multiple firearms, 3D-printed gun parts, body armor, explosives, and ammunition.
“This rumor, or, and not solid evidence, but this rumor that he has some free state or mindsets, so that, you know, anytime you got anti-government mindsets with these folks, it makes it a little bit more concerning and dangerous,” Croft said.
Croft said the operation showed how teamwork between federal and local law enforcement can save lives.
“This joint operation is a stark reminder of the dangerous individuals we pursue every day in Merrimack County,” Croft said. “Thanks to the swift cooperation between the U.S. Marshals, our task-force partners and our deputies, a heavily-armed suspect wanted on multiple warrants is now safely off the streets. Our community can rest easier tonight.”
Murphy now faces at least a dozen charges, including eight counts of felon in possession, three counts of possession of explosives, and resisting arrest.
