HAVERHILL – On Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, at approximately 6:10 p.m., Haverhill Police Detective Andrew Terrero was assigned to the department’s Street Crimes Unit operating an unmarked cruiser in plain clothes on Winter Street when he observed an early-model black Chevy Cobalt parked on the side of the road outside 210 Winter Street.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced fromthe the printed Personnel Narrative of Detective Andrew Terrero and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
Officer Domenic Buccini and Sergeant Michael Tortorise were also assigned to the Haverhill Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit at this time.
“Detectives observed that the vehicle did not have license plates on the front and rear of the vehicle,” Detective Terrero said. “I observed an older white male with white hair sitting in the vehicle. The male appeared to be looking around.”
Detective Terrero said he parked his cruiser across the street right outside the Dunkin’ at 215 Winter Street to observe the man in the vehicle.
“While parked in my unmarked vehicle, I observed the male looking around, then lowering his head for about five seconds, then bringing his head back up, bringing something up to his mouth, then looking around again,” Detective Terrero said. “It appeared that the male was consuming something. Over an approximate 10-15-minute period, I observed the male do these actions approximately six-seven times. During this time, the male appeared to be moving his lips as if he was talking to someone.”
Detective Terrero said the man then began to put boxes in the back seat of the vehicle.
“At this point, I moved my unmarked vehicle across the street approximately 60 to 70 yards behind the Chevy Cobalt,” Detective Terrero said. “I continued to observe the male, and he continued to periodically move his head to the area of the center console for a few seconds, then pop his head back up.”
Detective Terrero said the man then put his vehicle in drive and began to move up along Winter Street.
“I activated my blue lights and conducted a motor vehicle stop,” Detective Terrero said. “The Chevy pulled over outside of 194 Winter Street. Detectives made contact with the operator and vehicle owner, who was identified through his West Virginia license as Christopher Ladebauche.”
According to police, Christopher M. Ladebauche, 53, is a resident of Merrimac, MA.
Detective Terrero said that after explaining the reason for the stop, he quickly noticed that Ladebauche had his left hand on the steering wheel and was moving his other hand, which was tucked against his right side.
“From my perspective, his right hand was not visible to me,” Detective Terrero said.
Detective Terrero then told Ladebauche to put his hands on the steering wheel, which he did.
“Christopher stated that his rear license plate fell off last week and he does not have a front plate,” Detective Terrero said. “At this point, I told Christopher to step out of the vehicle. Christopher did so.”
While Ladebauche was outside the vehicle, Detective Buccini asked him about the containers in the vehicle.
“Christopher stated that the containers were old,” Detective Terrero said. “I observed three cans: one on the passenger seat without a pressure release nozzle and two on the passenger side floorboard with pressure release nozzles, and they appeared to be black metal nitrous oxide cans with ‘WHIP IT’ written on them.”
Detective Terrero said the two cans on the floorboard had condensation on them and appeared to be frosted over.
“Based on my training and experience, I am aware that nitrous oxide is intended to be used for cooking purposes, but people are known to abuse nitrous oxide for illicit inhalation use,” Detective Terrero said. “When inhaled, the gas produces a rapid, short-lived high. When pressurized nitrous oxide is released, the rapid pressure drop causes substantial cooling. The canister can become cold enough for moisture in the surrounding air to condense and freeze on the exterior, producing visible white frost.”
Detective Terrero said a white, frosty coating on the outside of a Whip It nitrous oxide canister is consistent with the canister having been discharged recently.
“I told Christopher that I understood when he told me the containers were old, but I wanted to know what they were,” Detective Buccini said. “Christopher hesitated with his response, went off topic, and stated that he was living out of his car. At this point, I advised Christopher of his Miranda rights, and he stated that he understood his rights and wished to continue to speak to detectives.”
Detective Buccini contacted dispatch and had them run Ladebauche’s vehicle’s VIN number to confirm its registration status.
“Haverhill dispatch confirmed that the vehicle’s registration was expired. Haverhill dispatch also confirmed that Christopher had an active license,” Detective Terrero said. “I inquired about the Whip It cannisters once again, and Christopher stated that he just bought it from the store, but did not know which store. It is important to note that Christopher previously stated that the canisters were old.”
Detective Terrero said he showed Ladebauche the canister and told him it appeared to have just been used.
“Christopher responded by saying that his AC was on,” Detective Terrero said. “It is important to note that two out of the three canisters had frost on them, and the third did not. Also, Christopher stated that his vehicle was off.”
Detective Terrero told Ladebauche that he had been watching him for some time and observed him moving his hand down toward the middle console of his vehicle several times and then bringing it up to his mouth.
“Christopher stated that this action could have been his inhaler because he has two,” Detective Terrero said. “Ultimately, one inhaler was found in the vehicle. Christopher stated that he takes his inhaler about four times a day, split up into roughly six-hour periods.”
Detective Terrero noted that the number of times he observed Ladebauche put his head down and bring something to his mouth was inconsistent with his daily inhaler usage.
“When advised of this, Christopher stated that he was looking for paperwork,” Detective Terrero said. “During our interaction, Christopher was avoiding answering the questions that were asked of him and kept changing the subject, talking about the medical center he was discharged from and trying to find a restaurant.”
Detective Terrero said that when Ladebauche was asked about the Whip It cans, he would dodge the question, answering with an unrelated topic.
“Christopher stated that he was going to use the canister to make a drink,” Detective Terrero added. “Due to the fact that Christopher was operating his vehicle on a public way without an active registration or physical license plates, and Christopher being in possession of the nitrous oxide, with two canisters appearing recently used, my observations of Christopher moving his head down appearing to place an object in his mouth several times, Christopher not being truthful about the inhaler, and Christopher’s constant inconsistencies with his responses, Christopher was advised that he was being placed under arrest.”
Detective Terrero said Ladebauche declined to perform standard field sobriety tests before being told he was under arrest.
Ladebauche was then handcuffed, placed in the rear of a cruiser, and transported to the Haverhill Police Department by Officer Craig Costoplus for booking.
“While back at the station, Christopher was introduced to Sergeant Tortorise, who advised him of his Miranda rights, his right to use a telephone,” Detective Terrero said. “Christopher was booked and fingerprinted in the usual fashion. While in booking and after Christopher was read his rights, he stated that he wanted to speak with me. Christopher initially stated that he never has done Whip Its, but then stated that he had used Whip Its in the past but did not use them today.”
Detective Terrero said a query of Ladebauche’s Board of Probation (BOP) record showed that he had a history of inhaling toxic vapor charges. For instance, on April 21, 2022, Ladebauche was charged with operating under the influence of drugs, which ultimately resulted in a disposition of continued without a finding.
Ladebauche’s Chevy Cobalt was towed from the scene by Bradford Towing to their private lot.
Detective Terrero said a motor vehicle tow sheet was completed and Detective Buccini found four boxes of Whip It canisters during an inventory of the vehicle. Detective Terrero also said immediate-threat paperwork was completed concerning Ladebauche’s driving privileges in Massachusetts and West Virginia.
Christopher M. Ladebauche, 53, of Merrimac, MA, was charged with the following:
- OUI Drugs, Second Offense
- Inhale Glue/Toxic Substance
- Unregistered Motor Vehicle
- Number Plate Violation
Ladebauche was arraigned in Haverhill District Court on Sept. 4, 2026. Following his arraignment, Ladebauche was involuntarily committed to the Men’s Addiction Treatment Center (MATC) in Brockton, under Chapter 123, Section 35 of the Massachusetts General Laws.
Ladebauche attended a pretrial hearing on Oct. 8, 2026. His next court date is a compliance and election hearing scheduled for Nov. 6, 2026.
Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story took place in September, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.
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