Stanley Burt, 34, of 24 Colonial Drive was arraigned at Keene District Court yesterday on charges of criminal mischief, reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, and driving and probation violations.

Authorities said Burt, who has a history of altercations with the police department, repeatedly hit the building with a stolen D3 Caterpillar bulldozer, causing severe structural damage and cutting the facility's power and phone lines.

A police vehicle is parked outside the area where a bulldozer was used to damage the police station in Troy yesterday. One man was arrested. (AMY AUGUSTINE)

"The front door was knocked in, and a bunch of windows were smashed out," said state police Sgt. David Griffin. "He hit it three times ... he took out the whole front, which included the main entrance to the police department."

No one was inside the building at the time of the incident. Two people had been there less than an hour earlier talking to Officer Kevin Stone about an unrelated matter, Griffin said.

Stone pulled into the station parking lot shortly before 12:30 a.m. and saw the bulldozer smashing into the building, Griffin said. "Forty minutes prior, they were there, and if this had happened when they were there, Officer Stone would have had to take some drastic measures," Griffin said.

In court yesterday, Burt, wearing a T-shirt depicting a construction excavator, said, "I've been harassed to the point this has brought this to. I want an investigation started."

Griffin said he did not believe Burt was targeting any specific officer, but according to a statement from the New Hampshire State Police, Trooper John Lucero overheard Burt say, "Maybe now Dave Ellis and Scott Ellis will listen this time."

Dave Ellis is a member of the Troy department, Police Chief Howard Sheats said.

"He's had a number of contacts with the Troy Police Department," Griffin said of Burt, "none of them favorable to him."

Burt entered no plea in court to several felony charges. His bail was set at $200,000.

When the judge asked Burt where he lived, "He responded rather sarcastically that he resided at 160 River Road in Westmoreland, the county correctional facility. He was released from there three or four months prior," said Griffin.

Officials said Burt's record includes 20 driving offenses. He recently was released after serving 12 months in the county jail after being convicted of being a habitual motor vehicle offender.

A structural engineer was at the station yesterday assessing the damage.

"We don't have a specific total yet, but the damage is well over $1,000. That's why it's a felony," said Griffin.