A frightening incident of pre-holiday domestic violence resulted in an intense, multi-agency pursuit and arrest in Manchester on Sunday after the mother of a five-year-old reported her daughter kidnappe by the girl’s father.
The incident stemmed from a 911 call to Manchester Police, and at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15, Manchester-by-the-Sea Police responded to a residence on Summer Street for a report of a domestic incident.
The male suspect, George Covan, 47, of Salem, had fled the scene on foot with his young daughter. Covan was arrested and arraigned Monday at Salem Superior Court on eight criminal charges stemming from the incident, including kidnapping and endangerment of a minor family member; two counts of assault and battery; one count of reckless endangerment; one count of possession of a dangerous weapon; one count of a Class B substance (encompassing substances like cocaine or methanphetamine); and two counts of Class E drug (typically prescription opiates) possession.
“This sort of thing doesn’t happen often in Manchester,” said Manchester Police Chief Todd Fitzgerald, adding that most domestic violence calls in Manchester are typically verbal in nature. That wasn’t the case on Sunday, he continued, “and the excellent work done by everyone involved—State Police, Essex County Sherriff Dept., Manchester Fire Dept., Essex Police—is the reason there was a good outcome.”
Manchester Police requested assistance from the Massachusetts State Police K-9 Unit, which dispatched two K-9 teams, and the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, which also provided two K-9 teams. Essex Police also responded and provided support under mutual aid.
A Massachusetts State Police K-9 dog tracked the suspect behind Manchester-Essex Regional High School into Rosedale Cemetery on the Rosedale Extension side of the cemetery. Covan was located behind a tombstone, covered in leaves, with the five-year-old child.
Covan sustained minor injuries while being taken into custody and was transported by the Manchester-by-the-Sea Fire Department to Beverly Hospital for evaluation. The child was unharmed and was safely reunited with her mother.
“It was, especially this (holiday) time of year, a … I don’t even know the word to describe it … a relief of a lot of tension,” said Manchester Fire Chief James “Jake” McNeilly, adding that all the public safety officials involved shared that relief, especially since the incident involved a young child.
“You could see the happiness on everyone’s face,” said McNeilly.
According to a 2023 study by Mass General Brigham, the holidays are a time when domestic violence incidents increase, with nearly 15% of assault-related injury medical visits occurring during the holidays. The study also found that sexual assaults were higher than normal on New Year’s Eve, but lower than normal on Christmas and Easter.
Why? First, with holiday breaks from school and work, abusive partners are more likely to be home. Second, the holidays can be a challenge for survivors to connect with resources like hotlines or local programs and escape an abusive partner. That wasn’t the case on Sunday, when Covan was apprehended within an hour of the 911 call coming into the regional public safety line.
Fitzgerald said once Covan was released from the hospital, he was transported to the Manchester Police Dept. for booking and was arraigned on Monday Dec. 16, at Salem District Court. Covan entered a plea of not guilty.
Chief Fitzgerald expressed his gratitude to the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, the Massachusetts State Police K-9 Unit, Essex Police, and the Manchester Fire Department for their assistance in this incident.
“You couldn’t ask for a better outcome and resolution,” said McNeilly.
The incident remains under investigation by the Manchester Police Department.
