MANCHESTER — Ward 11 Alderman Russell P. Ouellette is scheduled for arraignment Thursday in 9th Circuit Court, Manchester District Division, on misdemeanor charges of sexual assault, simple assault and false imprisonment.

Ouellette, 45, was released on $10,000 cash/surety bail Monday. He is accused of assaulting a 53-year-old woman who called 911 at 2:14 a.m. July 12, saying she was a passenger in a red pickup truck and was in a “bad situation.”

Patrol officers stopped a red pickup truck on Maple Street at Valley Street shortly thereafter. The driver was identified as Ouellette, of 351 Wayne St.

After an investigation into the allegations made by the woman during the traffic stop, the Manchester Police, acting in concert with the Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office, sought an arrest warrant for Ouellette in Circuit Court. Ouellette surrendered at police headquarters Monday afternoon and was processed and bailed out on a surety bond.

Ouellette, who was elected alderman in 2007, was previously a member of the school board. He is employed by the U.S. Postal Service.
- DALE VINCENT


Earlier story follows:



MANCHESTER — Ward 11 Alderman Russell P. Ouellette's arrest Monday for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman prompted calls for his resignation and surprise among some on his native West Side.

Ouellette, 45, turned himself in to Manchester police late Monday afternoon after warrants were obtained for his arrest on two counts of sexual assault and one count each of simple assault and hindering apprehension — all misdemeanors.

A U.S. Postal Service worker and former school board member who was elected alderman in 2007, Ouellette was released on $10,000 bail.

The charges stem from a 911 emergency phone call police received at 2:14 a.m. on July 12 from a woman who said she was a passenger in a red pickup truck and was in a “bad situation,” police said.

Shortly after, police said they stopped a red pickup truck being driven by Ouellette on Maple Street near Valley Street. Arrest warrants were obtained Monday.

“The Manchester Police Department did a thorough investigation. These are serious charges. And it's time for the alderman to resign to focus on his personal issues,” Mayor Ted Gatsas said.

“As elected officials, we are leaders in our community and we should be held to higher standards,” the mayor added.

No one answered the door Monday night at Ouellette's 351 Wayne St. home.

Calls left on his home telephone and cell phone also were not returned.

Alderman-at-Large Joseph Kelly Levasseur said it is up to Ouellette whether to resign.

“I live by the attitude innocent until proven guilty. It's his own decision whether he wants to step down,” he said.

Ward 10 Alderman Phil Greazzo was aware Ouellette was under investigation, but was surprised to learn from a New Hampshire Union Leader reporter that he had been arrested.

“This is rather shocking,” Greazzo said.

Even though the charges are allegations at this point, Greazzo said Ouellette should resign.

“He has to resign. If he doesn't resign, I think it is appropriate for the Board (of Aldermen) to remove him,” he said. “Just having that sort of atmosphere would be a huge distraction for a functioning city government.”

Manchester Police Chief David J. Mara said Manchester police conducted a full investigation into the allegations, then turned their findings over to the Hillsborough County Attorney's Office.

“We did the investigation. We came up with what we felt the findings of that investigation are. They (county attorney's office) reviewed the findings ... so there could be no appearance of a conflict of interest,” Mara said.

He declined further comment, referring media inquiries to the county attorney's office.

Ouellette will be arraigned at a later date in 9th Circuit Court in Manchester.

Ward 11 residents appeared surprised by the charges.

“I find this so hard to believe,” Paul Beliveau said from his seat at the Alpine Club, a private social club where Ouellette is a member. Beliveau said he coached Ouellette 30 years ago in Little League.

“He was a perfect kid. He was very nice,” said Beliveau, who is club treasurer.

Normand Gamache, the club's first director, said he only sees Ouellette at the club for political fundraisers.

“I always thought he was a pretty nice guy,” added Gamache, who is the club's first director.

Across town at the Henry J. Sweeney American Legion Post Number 2, a club official said Ouellette has never been involved in any situation there.

“He's never misbehaved here or had anything like that go on here,” said Charles LeVeille, the finance officer of the club, located on Maple Street near Valley Street. “We're kind of surprised because that is the last thing we would expect from him.”