'Jack The Snipper' Suspect Nabbed

Police have arrested a "primary suspect" in the case of a man who entered women's apartments near the University of New Hampshire during the summer and either removed or cut off their clothing as they slept.

Jeffrey Gelinas, 27, of Barrington, has not been charged in any of those cases. He was charged with loitering and prowling in two unrelated 'peeping tom' incidents in the last month, police said. Gelinas was arrested at his home Monday night.

"While Mr. Gelinas remains the primary suspect of these (prior) events, he is not being charged at this time," Police Chief David Kurz said. "The investigation remains active and continues."

Kurz added, "We think it was important to make the announcement for such a case that has traumatized the community."

Kurz said police had been focusing on Gelinas as the prime suspect for "close to a month" in what has been dubbed the "Jack the Snipper" case. He also said police had some indications that Gelinas was preparing to leave the area.

Gelinas, who is not a UNH student, was released on $2,000 personal recognizance bail under the condition that he stay out of Durham except to check in with police, Kurz said.

Gelinas is scheduled to appear in Durham District Court on Oct. 30 at 8:30 a.m. He was also charged in December 1998 with loitering and prowling after being caught in the early morning while peeping into a window at university-owned apartments.

Between June 25 and Aug. 6, seven young women reported break-ins at their downtown apartments in the early morning hours. Some reported waking up with a man in their bedroom while others woke up to find their clothes had been cut from their bodies as they slept.

"We're really relieved that there may be closure to this case," UNH spokeswoman Kim Billings said.