OSSIPEE –– A report of a suspected drive-by shooting late Sunday evening turned out to be a high-voltage insulator malfunction, according to local law enforcement and utility officials.
On Sept. 3, around 9:10 p.m., a 911 call was made reporting a drive-by shooting on Ossipee Mountain Road. The on-duty officer responded swiftly and initiated an investigation into the incident.
The reporting party claimed that their house’s power flickered following the sound of a gunshot. Consequently, the investigating officer notified NH Electric Co-Op to inspect the utility pole in the vicinity.
Upon arrival, NHEC workers discovered that a high-voltage insulator on the utility pole outside the reporting party’s house had malfunctioned. This malfunction would have created a loud bang and a flash of light as the electrical current arced, which could have been mistaken for a gunshot.
Investigating authorities found no evidence of a drive-by shooting. They assured residents that there is no present danger to the public.
