By Nancy West
The Union Leader
MANCHESTER, N.H. — The president of the state corrections officer union says he has been notified he will be arrested for simple assault stemming from a fight with a fellow corrections officer in the parking lot of the men’s prison in Concord on March 10.
Mark Jordan, 42, who has been president of the 400-member Local 250 of the New England Police Benevolent Association for about 10 years, said the state and his attorney were trying yesterday to arrange a time and place for him to turn himself in. He and his attorney, Charles G. Douglas III of Concord, say Jordan is accused of pushing and punching co-worker Sgt. Thomas Messina.
“I’m disappointed and disgusted on one side, but on the other side, this may be the only way the truth comes out,” Jordan said, adding he expects his arrest will be as soon as today.
Col. Robert Quinn, commander of New Hampshire State Police, yesterday declined comment on the matter.
“I cannot comment on any pending criminal investigation,” Quinn said.
Jordan insists he is being targeted for aggressively fighting for his union members and speaking out against what he sees as corruption and increasing violence in the prison system.
Jeffrey Lyons, spokesman for the Department of Corrections, said the department would have no comment on a personnel matter.
Jordan has been suspended without pay since the incident and claims he has four eyewitnesses who say he was trying to defend himself. Messina couldn’t be reached yesterday, but earlier this month said he couldn’t comment while the incident is being investigated.
Jordan recently filed a lawsuit against the Department of Corrections seeking compensatory damages and immediate reinstatement of his pay and benefits.
Douglas yesterday said a hearing on the lawsuit is set for Aug. 2 at 1:30 p.m. in Merrimack County Superior Court.
“It’s predictable. They are just trying to cover their tracks. We sued and now suddenly they’ve got to arrest Jordan. Mark knew this was probably what would happen if he sued,” Douglas said.
“The incident happened four months ago. This is obviously in retaliation,” Douglas said.
Trooper Stephen Puckett, who conducted the investigation into the fighting incident, is also named in Jordan’s lawsuit. Puckett did not immediately return calls yesterday.
Copyright 2010 Union Leader Corp.