Man wearing Speedo breaks into 911 center, assaults dispatchers

GOFFSTOWN, N.H. (WMUR) - It’s not often that 911 dispatchers need help from law enforcement, but that was the case for a community in New Hampshire after a man broke into a sheriff’s office.

Video shows the terrifying moments inside the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

“It hasn’t happened in my 24 years here, and hopefully it never happens again,” Sheriff Brian Newcomb said.

One day in August, a man wearing nothing but a Speedo and a yellow hat tried to get into the secured dispatch center.

“One of our dispatchers was coming in for work and was accosted by Mr. Nickerson when she was trying to get inside the building,” Newcomb said.

Authorities said 50-year-old Corey Nickerson barged in and tried to get from the vestibule into the dispatch center.

During the struggle, another dispatcher came rushing in to help.

“Typically, they’re here rendering assistance over the phone and radio for people calling 911 or needing emergency help, but that day, they found themselves needing assistance here,” the sheriff said.

Authorities said both the woman coming into work and the dispatcher who tried to help are now healing from both visible and invisible scars from that day.

“They did sustain some serious bodily injury, and certainly there’s emotional damage coming to work every day and knowing this is where the act happened,” Newcomb said.

The sheriff commended the dispatchers for their bravery through what he called a random attack.

“You expect to come to work and be safe, and that wasn’t the case that day,” Newcomb said. “But this dangerous individual accosted them, and through their selfless actions, they helped each other, persevered, and were able to get him out the door.”

Nickerson has pleaded not guilty to several charges, including assault, criminal threatening and false imprisonment.