Former Concord Detective Pleads Guilty To Assault, Other Charges

CONCORD, NH — A Concord police detective has pleaded guilty to several charges in Hillsborough County Superior Court with felony charges being dropped as part of an agreement.

Bryan Croft, 39, of Boscawen, pleaded guilty to domestic violence, stalking, and contempt of court in court on Friday. Second-degree assault, two counts of witness tampering, and two counts of falsifying physical evidence, all felonies, were dropped as part of a plea deal.

According to the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office, Croft admitted to using force while slamming a door into a woman's arm, an intimate partner, in October 2020. He also admitted to contempt of court, being in contact with the victim on May 3, despite a court order to stay at least 1,000 feet while he was out on bail. Croft also pleaded guilty to stalking for being in contact with the victim on May 5.

Croft was sentenced to two 12-month sentences and one six-month sentence. Eight months of one of the 12-month sentences will be suspended for two years, pending good behavior and domestic violence counseling, as well as police decertification, meaning he will lose his job.

The second 12-month sentence was completely suspended for two years on good behavior, counseling, and decertification. Two months of the six-month sentence was also suspended.

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"As a result of the sentences imposed today, the stand committed a portion of Mr. Croft’s sentences will be a total of 8 months at the House of Corrections," according to Timothy Sullivan, a senior assistant attorney general.

Croft's employment with the city of Concord was terminated on May 13, according to Stefanie Breton, the city's public information officer.

Croft was hired by the Concord Police Department in December 2010 after a short stint with the Franklin Police Department. His father, David Croft, is the sheriff of Merrimack County, which is why Croft was held in the Rockingham County Jail, his bail was handled by the Belknap County diversion services, and was tried in Hillsborough County.

Croft earned around $76,000 with nearly $10,000 in overtime in 2019, the most current available records, and $3,700 in health points provided — the way the city accounts for health care costs.

In 2015 and 2017, the department commended him for work on cases as part of its annual award ceremonies. In one of the commendations, Croft along with another detective and other officers received commendations for their work on a home invasion and robbery case where the victims were duct-taped and threatened with weapons. In the second award, he and other detectives were honored for solving multiple burglary and theft cases in the city during the fall of 2016. He has regularly been involved in a lot of the city's grittier cases.

The victim, who is a Concord police officer, is on leave, without pay, though the city of Concord is reviewing her leave status.

Croft and his wife purchased a condominium in June 2018, according to city assessing records, and were married in August 2019. She is originally from California. The city has no policy prohibiting relationships between employees although all staff must comply with city policies concerning sexual harassment and nepotism. She did not return an instant message seeking comment about the case.

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