By Mark Hayward
The New Hampshire Union Leader
MANCHESTER, N.H. — Mayor Ted Gatsas performed life-saving measures Friday on his close friend, David Wihby, the political insider who had been arrested earlier that day on a prostitution-related charge, according to a police report obtained by the New Hampshire Union Leader.
The report said Gatsas rushed to Wihby’s house after learning of the arrest in Nashua. The mayor had concerns that Wihby, vice chairman of the Manchester school board and close aide to U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, was distraught.
Gatsas discovered his friend of decades in a bedroom, with blue lips and having trouble breathing, the report said. The mayor called 911, and the operator gave him instructions.
“Mr. Gatsas was not able to pull Mr. Wihby to the floor but started CPR while he was on the bed,” reads the police report. “He was also performing rescue breathing.”
According to the report, Gatsas told police he suspected that Wihby overdosed because of the arrest. Police noted that they found prescription medicine in the bedroom.
Wihby’s arrest on Good Friday led to Ayotte announcing his resignation as her state director on Saturday. Like Gatsas, she said her thoughts and prayers were with Wihby.
Such sentiments were expressed on social media throughout the day Sunday and Monday.
Gatsas has said little, other than to praise his friend of nearly 50 years for his public service. Wihby’s political resume includes 18 years as a Manchester alderman, and 25 years at the state Labor Department. The Republican left the job of deputy labor commissioner last year to work for Ayotte.
Currently, he is in his first term as an at-large member of the Manchester school board.
On Tuesday, Gatsas said he had nothing else to say, even when told the police report had been made public, as required under the state open records laws.
Wihby’s present medical condition is unverified. The police report said he was taken by ambulance to Catholic Medical Center. But on Tuesday, hospital spokesman Donna Dubuc said the hospital has no public record of a patient by that name. Patients can opt to disallow any public disclosure of their hospital admission and medical status, Dubuc said.
Gatsas told police he believed Wihby’s arrest took place in Nashua about 5 p.m. Wihby was released from police custody about two hours later.
The Union Leader understands that he submitted his resignation to Ayotte’s office that evening.
The police report said Wihby arrived home about 8 p.m., told his wife he didn’t feel well and that he was going to bed. Shortly afterward, Linda Wihby went into the bedroom and heard him snoring.
Gatsas told police he heard from another person about the arrest, and that person suggested he check on Wihby.
The mayor called Mrs. Wihby at 8:30 p.m. Friday, and she said her husband was asleep and she would not wake him. Gatsas kept Mrs. Wihby on the phone while he drove to their house.
“Mr. Gatsas was yelling at Mrs. Wihby he needed to speak with her husband,” police reported. He arrived, and she let Gatsas in.
When they couldn’t wake Wihby, Gatsas called 911 and began CPR. Once the Manchester Fire Department arrived, rescue workers took over the life-saving measures.
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©2015 The New Hampshire Union Leader (Manchester, N.H.)