Concord Police accuse Barnstead man of vehicle theft after chase through city

A Barnstead man is facing multiple felony charges after police say he stole a GMC pickup truck from Chichester and led police on multiple chases.

Ryan Gates, 30, was arrested in Barnstead yesterday, nearly a week after Concord Police first received word of the theft.

Concord Police were alerted about the stolen vehicle on June 19, when the Lee Police Department alerted other departments to be the lookout for the vehicle, which had been involved in a chase in their town. The next day, a Concord officer spotted the vehicle on Loudon Road and attempted to stop it, but the driver fled and police did not continue to pursue the truck, citing safety reasons. State troopers later spotted the truck on Interstate 93 but lost sight of it on Interstate 89.

Another chase ensued in Farmington before the vehicle was ultimately discovered empty on June 21, police said. Authorities arrested Gates Tuesday after State Troopers and members of the Concord Police found him riding a bicycle in Barnstead. The Rochester police department had a previous warrant out for his arrest.

Gates was charged with receiving stolen property, reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, operating as a habitual offender, felon in possession of a dangerous weapon, falsifying physical evidence, disobeying an officer and reckless operation. He was held at the Merrimack County House of Corrections in advance of his arraignment at Concord District Court.

Concord Police Department asks that anyone with information relating to this incident submit information online at concordregionalcrimeline.com.

Rachel Wachman can be reached at rwachman@cmonitor.com.