Court Docs: Fired Officer Left Social Gathering Minutes Prior to Hit and Run

Earlier today, former Manchester Police Sgt. Stephen Coco turned himself in to authorities and was formally charged with two felony counts of conduct after an accident.

According to the supporting affidavit for Coco's arrest warrant, obtained from Merrimack District Court – where he was arraigned at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday before being released on $20,000 personal recognizance bail – Coco had allegedly just left a small social gathering on Harrod Lane when his 2007 Nissan Pathfinder drifted to the side of the road and struck a 17-year-old male and an 18-year-old male from behind before fleeing the scene.

Court documents state that the vehicle was "so far over to the right of the roadway, the driver side tires left tracks that were very close to the pavement edge." In addition, tire tracks consistent with an SUV were found in a nearby snowbank.

It was also revealed that a trauma team was mobilized at Elliot Hospital in preparation for the arrival of 18-year-old Dean Drukker of Bedford, who suffered a concussion with bleeding on the brain, separated shoulder and various contusions.

Noah Hickman, 17, also of Bedford, suffered a broken right elbow and various contusions. He provided investigators with details of the incident and indicated the vehicle had pulled out of a residence at 19 Harrod Lane and proceeded north before striking the pair.

After investigating the scene in front of 31 Harrod Drive – where the accident occurred – and following up on several leads, Bedford Police found that Coco had been one of five guests at Stephanie Harrington's 19 Harrod Lane home.

Police arrived at Coco's 29 Meadowcrest Drive residence  – roughly a mile from the accident scene, according to Hillsborough County Attorney Patricia LaFrance – at 3:38 a.m. There they observed fresh damage to the front of the vehicle including a dented hood, cracked bumper cover and a driver-side headlight assembly missing part of its plastic lens cover, which appeared to match a plastic piece found earlier near the scene of the incident.

When questioned, Coco denied being out the night of the accident and said no one else had used the Pathfinder, according to court documents. He also informed investigators the SUV was an undercover Manchester Police vehicle.

It was seized and impounded by Bedford PD and a subsequent inspection of the vehicle revealed fabric impressions consistent with Drukker's clothing at the time he was struck.

Though LaFrance wouldn't say if drugs or alcohol were involved in the incident, one of the conditions of Coco's bail specifically states that he must refrain from the consumption of "any" alcohol, in addition to narcotic drugs and controlled substances.

Coco, a Bedford resident, is denied contact with the victims and/or their families. He is also prohibited from possessing a firearm.

He is scheduled for a probable cause hearing on Tuesday, April 16 at 9:30 a.m.

Both victims, said LaFrance, have been released from the hospital.

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