By Eric Parry
DERRY, N.H. — A 20-year-old man suspected of burglarizing the home of a local firefighter has a serious drug problem, the man's father told the court yesterday.
Peter Dunn, 20, formerly of Nashua, is accused of breaking into the firefighter's house and stealing a prized fireman's jacket, jewelry and video games on June 22. He wasn't arrested until Thursday afternoon, when he was stopped in Pelham for allegedly driving with a suspended license.
Dunn has been charged with burglary, theft, possession of a narcotic drug and driving after suspension. He was arraigned yesterday morning in Derry District Court and is being held on $10,000 cash bail.
During his arraignment Friday morning, Dunn's father, Kenneth, told Judge John Coughlin he kicked his son out of his Nashua home so he could hit "rock bottom." Since then, Peter Dunn has been homeless and living out of his car.
"We believe he has a serious drug problem and we want to send him to some treatment," Kenneth Dunn told the court.
Dunn said he has found a residential treatment facility in Vermont, where he is trying to send his son.
After his father addressed the court, Peter Dunn began crying.
When the younger Dunn was arrested, he had 15 Ecstasy pills in his sock, according to police. He also had several items taken from the firefighter's residence. One of those items was a firefighter's jacket that had been passed down from one generation of fireman to the next, according to police.
Dunn also is awaiting trial on a sex assault charge out of Nashua, according to Pelham prosecutor Dennis Mannion. He was arraigned on that charge in April and is out on bail, Mannion said.
Kenneth Dunn told the court he would only allow his son to live at his house if he were not able to leave and go to Pelham to see his friends.
Coughlin agreed. If Peter Dunn is released on bail, he will have a 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew. He would only be allowed to leave the house under his parents' supervision or to go to a residential drug treatment program.
Police said the investigation into the burglary continues and further arrests are expected.
