Concord Robbery Suspect, Tracked Down By K-9, Accused Of Hiding Behind A Jersey Barrier Under A Bridge

CONCORD, NH — Concord’s new K-9 unit and its handler were able to quickly track down a robbery suspect and take him into custody.

Around 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, police were sent to Speedway on Hall Street regarding a robbery. A man, later identified as Blake Clarke Erickson, 47, was accused of stealing merchandise and assaulting a clerk before exiting the store. According to scanner chatter, the clerk knew the suspect from prior encounters.

The incident, which was first reported on the Concord NH Patch Facebook feed, led to officers scouring the immediate area looking for Erickson, including prior places he has been arrested or found, like the CVS on Hall Street, Sanel’s off Gas Street, and underneath the Water Street bridge, where a large homeless camp previously existed.

K-9 “Charlie” and its handler were also deployed to search the area.

“K-9 Charle ultimately located the suspect behind a jersey barrier under a nearby bridge,” Lt. Thomas Yerkes of the Concord Police Department said Friday. “It is of note that this arrest of Blake Erickson is the first arrest accredited to Concord Police Department K-9 Charlie.”

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

Erickson was arrested and charged with felony robbery, theft, and simple assault.

According to posts on Patch, Erickson has been arrested about a dozen times during the past decade or so on felony drug possession, theft, trespass, and operating without a valid license charges, as well as warrants.

Erickson was charged with second-degree assault in September 2014, according to superior court records. One count was dismissed in August 2015. A second count was dismissed in November 2015 after two competency hearings. In April 2015, Erickson was found to be “not presently competent (to stand trial) but may be restorable,” according to a court filing. Initially, prosecutors motioned for restorability in August 2015. A few months later, they motioned to close the case. In April 2025, a request was made for documents connected to the criminal case.

Do you have a news tip? Email it to tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos on Tony Schinella's YouTube or Rumble channels. Patch in New Hampshire is now in 217 communities — and expanding every day. Also, follow Patch on Google Discover.