07/15/2026
A Message from Chief Joel Johnson
First, we'd like to extend our sincere thanks to all of the social media experts, legal scholars, and keyboard warriors who managed to completely solve this case without the inconvenience of actually being there. Your unwavering commitment to investigative work from the comfort of your couch is truly remarkable.
Now that everyone has had an opportunity to write the police report for us, here's what actually happened.
Before we begin, it's worth mentioning one claim that has generated a great deal of discussion online. The alleged suspect publicly stated that he had been asleep at home. Keep that in mind as you read the timeline below.
On July 13, 2026, at 7:40 p.m., the Plaistow Police Department responded to a hit-and-run crash in the Market Basket parking lot where the driver left the scene. Based on prior encounters with the vehicle and its known operator, the investigating officer believed the alleged suspect resided on Route 125 in Kingston. Because the follow-up investigation involved a residence in Kingston, the Plaistow Police Department requested assistance from the Kingston Police Department.
Approximately 25 minutes later, officers arrived at the Kingston residence and knocked on the front door. We have to admit, it's pretty impressive how someone could allegedly be asleep at home while also managing to travel from the Market Basket parking lot, make it home, and apparently fall right back asleep before officers arrived. That's efficiency.
Contrary to what has been repeatedly posted online, no officer opened the door. The door was not fully latched, and when the officers knocked, the dog nudged it open, immediately charged out of the residence, ran past one officer, and attacked the other, biting a Kingston Police officer.
We're not sure why the door wasn't latched. Perhaps someone had gotten home in a bit of a hurry and forgot to pull it shut behind them. We'll leave that to the internet detectives to figure out. What we do know is this: the officers did not open the door. They knocked on it.
Despite what has circulated on social media, the officers did not enter the home, force the door open, or provoke the dog. Sometimes the truth is far less exciting than the version that makes its way around Facebook.
The following day, after reviewing surveillance video from the Market Basket parking lot, Plaistow Police identified the alleged suspect as Brian McGowen.
As for the claim that the alleged suspect had been asleep at home, that statement wasn't entirely inaccurate. The alleged suspect was, in fact, asleep, just not where his Facebook post suggested. A concerned citizen discovered him asleep in the driver's seat of his vehicle in the Market Basket parking lot and woke him because they believed he was experiencing some type of medical emergency. According to the Plaistow Police Department's investigation, once awakened, he attempted to drive away, struck multiple vehicles, and left the scene. So yes, he was sleeping. Just not where his Facebook post suggested.
Many comments expressed concern for the dog, and we certainly understand why people care about animals. We do too. What was noticeably absent, however, was much concern for the Kingston Police officer who was simply assisting another agency and left the encounter with injuries requiring 17 stitches. Thankfully, he is expected to make a full recovery.
The unfortunate reality is that this entire situation could have been avoided. Rather than making contact with officers who were attempting to investigate a reported crime, the alleged suspect chose to remain inside the residence while officers attempted to speak with him. During that attempt, the unsecured door opened when officers knocked, allowing the dog to run outside and attack one of our officers.
Our officers respond to calls every day without knowing what they'll encounter. Sometimes those calls involve dangerous people. Sometimes those calls involve dangerous animals. Occasionally, they encounter both at the same address. Regardless, they continue showing up because that's the job they swore to do.
Before sharing, commenting, or declaring yourself an eyewitness to events you never witnessed, we encourage everyone to wait for the facts. Social media is excellent at telling one side of a story. Investigations and evidence tell the whole story.
To the many residents who support law enforcement, wait for the facts before reaching conclusions and understand there are always multiple sides to every story, thank you. Your support of the men and women who wear the badge does not go unnoticed.
