Mark Beliveau, of Dartmouth College Safety and Security, photographs a serial number on a bike, held by Hanover Police Cpl. Tim Meenagh, right, that is suspected to have been used by a man who threatened to stab a public works employee with a screwdriver, to flee in Hanover, N.H., on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023. The victim, Wyatt, who declined to give his last name, speaking with Hanover Detective Nicholas McNutt at left, discovered the man inside a pump house on Lebanon Street, and was not injured in the encounter. (Valley News - James M. Patterson) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.
Mark Beliveau, of Dartmouth College Safety and Security, photographs a serial number on a bike, held by Hanover Police Cpl. Tim Meenagh, right, that is suspected to have been used by a man who threatened to stab a public works employee with a screwdriver, to flee in Hanover, N.H., on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023. The victim, Wyatt, who declined to give his last name, speaking with Hanover Detective Nicholas McNutt at left, discovered the man inside a pump house on Lebanon Street, and was not injured in the encounter. (Valley News - James M. Patterson) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. Credit: valley news — James M. Patterson

CLAREMONT — A Hanover police detective is on paid leave after being arrested on domestic violence charges earlier this month.

Cornish and Claremont police arrested Tim Meenagh, a 41-year-old Cornish resident, after responding to a report of a domestic disturbance at a Cornish residence on Jan. 17 at 6:18 p.m., Cornish Police Chief Justin Vivian said in a Thursday email.

At his arraignment in Claremont District Court on Monday, he pleaded not guilty two domestic violence misdemeanor charges, which include one count of simple assault and one count of obstructing report of a crime/injury, according to the complaint document.

Meenagh is alleged to have hit the victim in the leg with a table and thrown them to the ground, court filings indicate. Meenagh is then alleged to have taken the victim’s telephone to prevent them from contacting police regarding the assault, the documents said.

A redacted version of the affidavit in the case, which includes specific details about the crime and timeline, was not immediately available, Vivian said Friday.

Meenagh is subject to multiple conditions of bail, including restrictions from possessing a firearm and from contacting the victim in any form, according to a criminal order of protection. He must also refrain from going within 300 feet of the victim may be and refrain from excessive use of alcohol and any narcotic drug or controlled substance.

Meenagh has been on paid leave since Jan. 18, the day after the alleged assault, Hanover Police Capt. Michael Schibuola said in a Thursday email. He has been employed with the Hanover Police Department for eight years, serving in both patrol and investigation roles, most recently in the Criminal Investigations Unit.

The status of his leave is not fixed and will “depend on the outcome of the judicial process,” Hanover Police Chief James Martin said Friday by email. Once it concludes, the department will initiate an investigation to determine if any policy violations occurred.

Meenagh declined to comment on the charges when reached Friday by phone. He said he is being represented by Claremont attorney Anthony Dipadova Jr.

His next scheduled hearing is on March 9 at 10 a.m. at the Claremont District Court.

Sofia Langlois can be reached at slanglois@vnews.com or 603-727-3242.