Crime & Safety

Attempted Murder Suspect, Others Arrested In Concord's South End

Cops: Michael Ames was arrested on Thorndike Street after attempting to flee marshals and Concord police who were closing in on him Monday.

CONCORD, NH — After a nearly two-week manhunt that led police to a popular city park for a reported attempted murder and later, the lockdown of a downtown hotel, Concord police have a suspect – and others – in custody. Concord police officers and U.S. Marshals, working on a tip they had received that Michael Ames, 35, a suspect in an armed robbery investigation, surrounded a home on Thorndike Street next to the old Rumford Elementary School. As the team was set to move onto the building, Ames reportedly came out of the home, according to Sean Ford, the commander of the criminal investigations division of the Concord Police Department.

"When he was confronted by a U.S. Marshal, he discarded a backpack and tried to flee on foot," Ford stated. "He was apprehended and began to actively resist efforts to take him into custody."

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Ames was eventually taken into custody. During this struggle, a deputy marshal was injured, Ford stated. He was treated at the scene and taken to the hospital. Ames was also transported to the hospital by a Concord Fire Department ambulance.

Ames was accused of being in possession of a pistol at the time of his arrest, according to Ford, which led to more charges.

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Police executed search warrants of the backpack and the home. Ford stated evidence obtained during those searches would lead to "additional weapons and drug charges" against Ames in the future.


Ames, pictured lower left, was charged with attempt to commit second-degree murder, robbery-firearm, attempt to commit armed robbery, robbery-unarmed, reckless conduct, two counts convicted felons, two counts of second-degree assault, and resisting arrest or detention, all felonies. He is being held without bail and will be arraigned in Merrimack County Superior Court Tuesday.

"Two other associates" of Ames, according to Ford, were also charged when police made contact with him. Christopher Becker, 32, lower center, of Concord, was charged with felony possession of controlled drugs and a warrant for failure to appear on a drug sales charge in Merrimack County Superior Court. Karen Tefft, 32, lower right, of Concord, was also arrested on a warrant for failure to appear on felony theft charges in Merrimack County Superior Court.

Ford stated that the department was thankful for the public's support and effort assisting with the case and added that officials were grateful that no one was seriously injured during the process of capturing Ames.

Editor's note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Concord Police Department and does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the removal request process for New Hampshire Patch police reports.

Editor's note: This post has been corrected reflecting the correct failure to appear charge for Tefft.

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