Officer: Man charged with kidnapping New Hampshire teen is very smart, loves conflict

Nathaniel Kibby, 34, of Gorham, N.H. stands during his arraignment at Conway District Court in Conway, N.H., Tuesday, July 29, 2014. Kibby was charged with kidnapping Abigail Hernandez nine months ago was ordered held on $1 million bail after a brief court appearance Tuesday. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool) (The Associated Press)

Nathaniel Kibby, 34, of Gorham, N.H. is escorted to his arraignment at Conway District Court in Conway, N.H., Tuesday, July 29, 2014. Kibby was charged with kidnapping Abigail Hernandez nine months ago was ordered held on $1 million bail after a brief court appearance Tuesday. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool) (The Associated Press)

Abigail Hernandez, center, listens to her mother, Zenya Hernandez, left, talk with New Hampshire Senior Assistant Attorney General Jane Young prior to the arraignment of Nathaniel Kibby, 34, of Gorham, N.H., at Conway District Court in Conway, N.H., Tuesday, July 29, 2014. Kibby was charged with kidnapping Abigail nine months ago, and was ordered held on $1 million bail after a brief court appearance Tuesday. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool) (The Associated Press)

A police officer who had two decades of contact with the New Hampshire man charged with kidnapping a teenage girl says the suspect is very bright and opinionated and thrives on conflict.

Former Conway Lt. Chris Perley says he's known 34-year-old Nathaniel Kibby since Kibby was 12.

Kibby was arrested Monday at his Gorham trailer and charged with kidnapping Abigail Hernandez on Oct. 9, a week before her 15th birthday. Abby returned to her North Conway home July 20, but investigators haven't revealed the circumstances of her disappearance or return.

Perley says Kibby "was smart, but he was also brutally myopic in whatever view he had."

But the former officer says he never thought Kibby would kidnap someone.

Kibby is being held on $1 million cash bond. His lawyer hasn't commented.