CANAAN – Police have yet to locate a firearm in an ongoing investigation of an incident at a motocross event over a week ago in which a man was arrested on multiple charges, including felony criminal threatening with a deadly weapon.
A selfie taken by 38-year-old Craig Moses of Tilton, N.H., posing with a Canaan police officer on the evening of his arrest has now prompted a review for violations of department policy, according to Canaan Police Chief Ryan Porter.
On the evening of Oct. 3, at a practice event hosted by Canaan Lions Club Motocross ahead of a race scheduled for the following day, police responded to the Cardigan Mountain Fish and Game Club on Ball Park Road looking for Craig Moses, a 38-year-old resident of Tilton, N.H., who was allegedly being disorderly and brandishing a firearm.
Moses was armed with both a knife and a firearm, according to witnesses, and had engaged in verbal altercations with other riders, Canaan Police Chief Ryan Porter previously told the Valley News.
Witnesses said they heard Moses rack a handgun slide back and observed him holding a handgun, Porter said.
Police also said they observed signs of intoxication during their interaction with Moses.
Following his arrest, Moses was released on personal recognizance with conditions not to possess firearms or excessively use alcohol. His arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 30 in Lebanon District Court.
Moses, reached by phone on Monday, declined to comment on the incident.
In Porter’s statement to the Valley News on Oct. 5, he requested that anyone with information regarding the incident contact Officer Colton Jack at 603-523-7400 or cjack@canaanpolicenh.gov.
On Oct. 6, the Valley News obtained a Snapchat selfie following the incident that shows Moses together with Officer Jack.
In the image shared on Snapchat by an account associated with Moses, Moses is looking into the camera, with Jack standing directly behind him, also looking into the camera, in a Canaan police uniform with his badge and last name visible.
The photo does not include any blur that would indicate movement from either individual at the time it was captured.
Moses declined to give the Valley News permission to republish the image.
“I have reviewed it and can confirm I am now aware that it was taken on the evening of the arrest,” Porter stated in an email. “To be clear, a personal photo with someone in custody is not consistent with the professionalism I expect from every member of this department, and it is not something I condone.”
The selfie is being reviewed in accordance with departmental policy, he added without going into further detail.
As a result of the incident, Canaan Lions Motocross cancelled the Oct. 4 race out of “safety for the families that attend our events and our local community,” the organization said in a statement to the Valley News on Oct. 5.
Melissa Underhill with Canaan Lions Motocross told the Valley News the race has been rescheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17, at the track on Ballpark Road, with registration beginning at 6:30 a.m.
A New Hampshire State Police K-9 “trained in ballistic and firearm detection was used to search the grounds before any further races were held,” Porter said.
Over a week removed from the incident, police still haven’t located a firearm, “but it remains under investigation,” he added.
Along with the felony criminal threatening with a deadly weapon charge, Moses is also facing misdemeanors of criminal trespass and disorderly conduct in connection with the incident.
“At this time, we still plan to proceed with the original charges that were filed,” he said.
