Taser hits finally fell naked camp counselor -Manchester (NH) Union Leader

By RUSS CHOMA

HAMPSTEAD – A counselor at a Hampstead summer camp was arraigned yesterday on charges he assaulted a police officer -- breaking her elbow -- after she tried to restrain him from running down the street naked.

Michael Feld, 26, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was arrested early Monday morning near Camp Tel Noar, a Jewish summer camp where he was the drama director. According to police affidavits and prosecutors, a homeowner at 4 Shore Drive called just after 5 a.m. to report Feld was in his home.

When Hampstead Police Officer Kathleen Boulter arrived, Feld was apparently running down Harris Avenue, naked.

Feld allegedly lunged at Boulter, continuing after her even after she tasered him. According to the charges against him, Feld threw Boulter to the ground, shattering her elbow, and then continued to scuffle with her, at one point choking her to the point where she reported that she was about to lose consciousness. The homeowner, Phil Torre, knocked Feld off Boulter, and Feld fled down the road.

Sandown Police Cpl. John Sable, who also responded to the scene, caught up with Feld, who was hiding behind some shrubs. Sable also fought with Feld, tasering him again, before finally subduing him. Feld allegedly got up and ran off, with handcuffs on, while Sable was getting leg restraints. According to the documents, Sable tackled Feld and was able to force him into a cruiser.

In court yesterday, a bewildered looking Feld was arraigned on two felony counts of second-degree assault for fighting with Boulter, and eight misdemeanor charges for resisting arrest and simple assault.

Exeter District Court Judge Laurence Cullen ordered Feld held on $100,000 cash or surety bail.

Although pleas of not guilty were automatically entered for Feld because he was not represented by a lawyer, he tried to tell the judge he wanted to plead guilty. He said he had been awake all night and started hearing hallucinations.

"I went out for a swim, and was up all night, and started to experience hallucinations and hear voices," he said in court. "It was extremely scary for me, and I feel terrible about this."

Feld also asked for "mental help," which Cullen said could be pursued after a lawyer is assigned to represent him.

Yesterday afternoon, a woman who identified herself as the executive director at Camp Tel Noar confirmed that Feld was the head of the music department at the summer camp. "He lived off campus; he did not live with children," the woman said.

She added that Feld is no longer a camp employee, so she did not feel it was appropriate to comment on the case.