Jake Phillip Evans, 33, of Loudon Road in Concord, faces new felony drug charges after a Concord Heights traffic stop near Steeplegate Mall. Police accused him of possessing fentanyl and methamphetamine, with later sale charges added after a search warrant.
The case drew attention because police reported 26.2 grams of fentanyl and 20.65 grams of methamphetamine, plus needles, plastic baggies, a digital scale, ammunition, a handgun holster, and firearm cleaning supplies. Evans remains held on preventive detention in Merrimack County.
Traffic Stop Near Steeplegate Mall
Around 12:15 a.m. on May 5, an officer said a Subaru Outback towing a trailer failed to use a turn signal while turning onto Loudon Road from D’Amante Drive near Concord Heights. The vehicle was stopped shortly after near the Steeplegate Mall area.
According to court affidavits, Evans was accused of being visibly nervous, trembling, and breathing rapidly during the stop. The officer also wrote that Evans gave vague answers about where he lived and what he was doing early that morning in Concord.
When asked whether anything in the vehicle should concern the officer, Evans replied, “Not that I know of.” The affidavit said he leaned toward the center console, and after agreeing to open it, the officer saw multiple hypodermic needles inside.
Drugs Found During the Vehicle Search
After Evans exited the vehicle, police said he made deliberate movements between the driver’s seat and door, as if trying to hide something. An officer reported finding two baggies beneath the seat containing methamphetamine and fentanyl, partially concealed by loose plastic trim.
Police also accused Evans of having a needle in his pocket and live ammunition during the stop. Before the Subaru was towed, an inventory search found more fentanyl in the overhead sunglasses holder, adding another location where drugs were allegedly concealed.
On May 6, police searched the Subaru at a tow facility in Pembroke after getting a warrant. The affidavit said they found a needle loaded with brown liquid, more methamphetamine, plastic baggies, a digital scale, ammunition, a handgun holster, and firearm cleaning supplies.
Charges, Court Status, and Prior Cases
Evans was first arrested on possession of methamphetamine subsequent, possession of fentanyl subsequent, falsifying physical evidence, transporting drugs in a motor vehicle, and failure to use a required turn signal. After the Subaru warrant, police added fentanyl sale and methamphetamine sale charges.
He was arraigned in Merrimack County Superior Court on May 15 and held on preventive detention. Court records list a dispositional conference for Aug. 6, meaning the case is still moving through early decisions before any final outcome is reached.
Superior court records also describe earlier drug cases, including a 2015 Concord MDMA and Molly case and 2016 guilty pleas. Patch noted another active Pembroke drug case, with a New Hampshire Supreme Court appeal tied to a suppression issue.
Endnote
Debate around Concord drug stops often comes down to search details and whether evidence clearly supports sale charges. Here, the reported amounts, 26.2 grams of fentanyl and 20.65 grams of meth, gives prosecutors a serious quantity argument, but procedure still matters.
What comes next is a court review of the Subaru search, the Aug. 6 conference, and how police link Evans to the vehicle contents. The report listed an EBT card, a prescription bottle, a VISA card, shipping materials, and a photograph in his name, while the trailer had nothing.