Three charged with beating homeless man, stealing his boots

By Hannah McBride, Globe Correspondent

Three suspects are facing charges that they beat a 19-year-old homeless man, then stole his boots and left him for dead in a nearby river, Concord, N.H, police said.

Robert Potter, 42, Thomas Croswell, 42, and Jamie Locke, 33, were arrested Friday after police received a call about an unconscious man floating in the Merrimack River near Everett Arena around 8 p.m. Wednesday.

The trio stole the man's boots and pushed him over the bank into the river 30 feet below, said Concord police Sergeant Tim Berry. Police allege the suspects had conspired to rob and murder the man. Berry said the suspects, who were known to police before the incident, know each other and the victim. Croswell and Locke are also homeless, said.

About eight homeless people regularly camp in three sites in the wooded area behind the Everett Arena on Loudon Road, Berry said.

As of this afternoon, Concord police have no details on the victim's condition. The suspects face a variety of charges, including attempted murder, second-degree assault, and robbery and are to be arraigned Monday.