(Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS) State police troopers escort Richard Royea, 40, to an awaiting cruiser after he was subdued by a K9 team at the end of a police pursuit of a stolen Amazon delivery truck that began in Concord. Royea is accused of stealing the truck.

CONCORD — The man accused of hopping into an Amazon Prime delivery truck and taking off while the driver was making a delivery has been identified as 40-year-old Concord resident Richard Royea.

According to reports, Royea, who hasn’t had a valid drivers license for about a decade, admitted to drinking a six-pack of beer before allegedly stealing the truck from in front of a residence on South Fruit Street.

Royea drove off toward I-93 in Concord, police said, and moments later a be on the lookout bulletin was broadcast to state troopers and officers in adjacent towns.

Troopers soon spotted the truck on I-93 and began following it. The driver, later identified as Royea, was reportedly varying his speed widely as he headed south, going through the Hooksett tolls then crossing into Manchester.

He ended up taking the Wellington Road exit, allegedly drove through several neighborhood streets and turning north onto Elm Street, apparently unaware the street comes to a dead-end just north of Bennington Road.

When he came to a stop, troopers and Manchester officers surrounded the vehicle and ordered him to exit. When he did come out, police said, he scuffled with officers and allegedly resisted arrest.

The skirmish prompted a state police K9 officer to deploy “Ragnar,” who, police said, subdued Royea to the point troopers were able to place him in handcuffs.

The charges filed against Royea include aggravated driving while intoxicated, felony-level receiving stolen property, reckless operation, driving without a valid license, resisting arrest or detention, and disobeying a police officer.

Concord police are expected to bring auto-theft charges in the future.

Royea had been scheduled for arraignment in Merrimack County Superior Court on Monday, but he was still in Concord hospital recovering from injuries sustained in the incident. The hearing was moved to today.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.