8 Arrested in Major Drug Sweep

Portsmouth Police and the attorney general's Drug Task Force arrested eight people and are seeking a ninth person in a major drug sweep conducted Wednesday night.

The arrests were part of an ongoing heroin distribution investigation. The eight people arrested were charged with felony level drug related activity.

• Persephanie Lesperance, 24, of 229 Raleigh Way, Portsmouth was charged with conspiracy to commit sale of a controlled drug (heroin) and unlawful possession of a controlled drug (Suboxone). She was held on cash bail.
• Kayla Crystal, 30, of 2 Winsor Road, Portsmouth was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit sale of a controlled drug (heroin). She was held on cash bail.
• Sarah Bigelow, 33, of 4 Winsor Road, Portsmouth was charged with conspiracy to commit sale of a controlled drug (heroin) and breach of bail. She was held without bail.
• Patricia Jones, 42, of 5 Winsor Road, Portsmouth was charged with two counts of sale of a controlled drug (heroin). She posted $250 cash bail and is scheduled to be arraigned on Dec. 16.
• Christian Kirkendol, 22, of 2 Winsor Road, Portsmouth was charged with sale of a controlled drug (heroin) and conspiracy to commit sale of a controlled drug (heroin). He was held on cash bail.
• Tyler Townsend, 19, of 609 Sherwood Glen, Somersworth was charged with two counts of sale of a controlled drug (crack cocaine). He was held on cash bail.
• Joseph Gamester, 22, of 49 Main Mast Road, New Castle was charged with conspiracy to commit sale of a controlled drug (heroin). He posted $250 cash bail and is scheduled to be arraigned on Dec. 16.
• Austin Fisk, 21, of 30 Taft Road, Portsmouth was taken into custody and charged with misdemeanor level trespassing in the Gosling Meadows neighborhood after being served with a letter from the Portsmouth Housing Authority barring him from the property. He was released on personal recognizance bail and is scheduled to be arraigned on Dec. 16.

Police are also seeking a ninth suspect, 21-year-old Chelsea Glover. She is 5'4" tall, 100 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. She has ties to the Milton area and is wanted for sale of a controlled drug (heroin) and violation of probation. Anyone with any information about her wherabouts is asked to contact their local police department.

Portsmouth Police said many of the arrests would not have been possible without the cooperation of the residents of Gosling Meadows neighborhood and the Portsmouth Housing Authority staff. 

Anyone with information concerning drug activity in Portsmouth is encouraged to contact Detective Scott Study at 603-610-7653. 

You can also contact Seacoast Crime Stoppers by leaving an anonymous tip at 603-431-1199 or at seacoastcrimestoppers.org. You can also text your tip to CRIMES (274637) with the letters "TIPSCS"  and leave your tip that way. If your tip leads to an arrest or indictment of the individual you could receive a cash reward of up to $1,000.