PORTSMOUTH � City Councilor Josh Denton has received a temporary restraining order against a city woman who he said threatened him on two separate occasions.

Denton states in the complaint that on May 25 and July 31 � the night of a special City Council meeting � the woman told him �she would hit me on my bicycle with her car placing me in fear for my personal safety.�

A Portsmouth District Court judge granted him the temporary restraining order last week, his attorney Joseph Plaia said Monday.

A hearing has been scheduled in Portsmouth District Court on Aug. 13 at 2 p.m. for Denton to seek a permanent order, Plaia said.

�My bicycle is my primary mode of transportation and I have been injured recently in a bicycle accident,� Denton said in the complaint filed last week in District Court.

That accident, Denton said, resulted �in a concussion, stitches and being in pain for several weeks,� Denton said in the complaint.

The threats, Denton said, left him with a �similar fear� for his personal safety that he felt when he was serving in Iraq.

Denton is an Army veteran and served in Iraq.

The woman could not be reached for comment Monday. She did not answer her door when a reporter visited her home late Monday morning.

The first time the woman allegedly threatened Denton occurred at the Portsmouth Farmer�s Market on Saturday, May 25, Denton stated in the complaint, which was filed on Thursday, Aug. 1, one day after the City Council hearing.

When the woman saw Denton at one of the farmer�s booths, she allegedly told him �If I knew that was you on your bicycle yesterday I would have hit you with my car,� according to Denton�s statement.

�It was very unsettling because I thought she was serious,� Denton said about the incident.

The second incident allegedly occurred on Wednesday, July 31, during a special City Council meeting on a petition filed by Revisit McIntyre about the McIntyre federal building redevelopment process.

The council broke for a recess and the woman was part of a group of people talking during the break, Denton said in the complaint.

When she saw Denton, she told him she didn�t like the polo shirt he was wearing, and added he should be dressed like City Councilor Rick Becksted, who was wearing a suit, Denton said.

Denton then asked if she was serious when she allegedly threatened him on May 25, Denton said.

The woman replied �that she was serious and would hit me on my bicycle with her car,� Denton said in the complaint.

She then repeated the threat two more times and told Denton she hates him �and everything I stand for,� Denton said in the complaint.

He asked the woman her name was, but she wouldn�t tell him.

A police officer later identified the woman after Denton notified police of the incident.

On Monday, Police Chief Robert Merner said the incidents are �presently under investigation.�

Merner added he was aware that Denton has sought the protective order from the district court.

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�Councilor Denton has retained my services to help assist him through the legal process. That is all I can say at this time,� Plaia said.

Denton declined to comment on the issue based on Plaia�s advice.

Mayor Jack Blalock stated that Denton mentioned the incident to him during Wednesday�s meeting.

�He seemed really shocked by it when he mentioned it. I thought it was kind of shocking to hear someone would do that. It�s so unnecessary,� Blalock said.

In addition to the alleged incident between Denton and the woman, two women also exchanged words in the back of City Council Chambers on July 31.

Blalock stated police were �very quickly in the room� after that incident happened, but he believes the City Council �may want to consider� talking to Merner about security at council meetings.

�This is way out of the ordinary,� he added. �I�ve never witnessed or heard of anybody threatening violence.�

Blalock believes Denton was right to be upset by the incident.

�Sadly in our current times a lot of public violence is happening all over the country,� Blalock said. �It�s rather sad.�

City Attorney Robert Sullivan confirmed Monday that Denton also mentioned the incident to him Wednesday night.

Sullivan added that under state law, �it is a crime to threaten a public official in the performance of their duties.�

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