KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) A Nelson man facing 15 criminal charges stemming from an alleged domestic violence incident and a subsequent series of vehicle pursuits appeared in court Monday, three days after police arrested him following a two-day search that prompted shelter-in-place advisories and road closures in several communities.

Patrick Allen Boyer, 39, appeared by video from the Cheshire County jail for his arraignment in 8th Circuit Court in Keene. He did not enter pleas on the felony charges and pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor counts, according to court records.

Boyer is charged with second-degree assault involving strangulation and domestic violence, criminal restraint, two counts of reckless conduct involving a deadly weapon, two counts of theft by unauthorized taking, and multiple counts of resisting arrest and disobeying police officers.

The charges involve incidents in Keene, Nelson, Stoddard and Sullivan.

Search began Wednesday

State police obtained an arrest warrant on Sept. 16, according to court records. Police subsequently issued a be-on-the-lookout alert for Boyer.

The search expanded over the following two days as investigators said Boyer was believed to have been involved in multiple vehicle incidents.

According to the criminal complaints filed in court, Boyer is accused of taking a gray 2026 Honda Civic and later fleeing from police while driving it. Investigators allege he reached speeds approaching 100 mph, crossed into oncoming traffic and failed to stop for police emergency signals.

The complaints also allege that Boyer fled on foot into wooded areas after abandoning the Honda.

Additional charges filed in connection with the search accuse him of taking a white International tractor-trailer and a blue GMC Sierra without authorization.

Police allege Boyer led officers on another pursuit while driving the tractor-trailer, continued driving despite deflated tires and eventually crashed the vehicle. He is also accused of fleeing on foot following the crash.

The complaints further allege that Boyer fled from police again after the GMC Sierra was involved in an incident, including running through the Walmart area and into wooded terrain.

Arrest followed shelter-in-place warnings

The search resulted in significant police activity across the region.

Residents in Nelson and Stoddard were advised to remain inside their homes Thursday, and a section of Route 9 was closed during the search.

On Friday morning, a shelter-in-place advisory was issued for part of Keene. Route 9 was also closed between its connection with Route 10 in Keene and the Sullivan Country Store.

Schools throughout SAU 29 briefly went into emergency protocols Friday, according to Superintendent Robert Malay. The district includes Keene, Chesterfield, Harrisville, Marlow, Marlborough, Nelson and Westmoreland.

Keene State College also activated emergency protocols Friday morning.

State Police Capt. Vincent Grieco said at a Friday news conference that authorities considered Boyer potentially armed during the search. Police did not publicly provide additional details about whether he actually had a weapon.

Boyer was arrested Friday near Walmart in Riverside Plaza by Keene police and state troopers, bringing the search to an end.

Prior convictions

Court records cited in an affidavit filed by New Hampshire State Police show Boyer has an extensive criminal history.

He was convicted in Vermont in 2023 of aggravated domestic assault with a weapon, domestic assault and violating conditions of release. He was sentenced to prison and released on parole in August 2025.

The affidavit states that Boyer was also under the supervision of the Keene Probation and Parole Office and was on parole for offenses in both Vermont and Massachusetts at the time of the September investigation.

Judge Patrick Ryan ordered Boyer not to have contact with the alleged victim as part of a criminal bail protective order. A probable cause hearing is scheduled for Sept. 30 in Keene.