A Derry man accused of trying to use a Salem police cruiser as a getaway car while being arrested for a residential burglary has decided to go to trial.

Richard Melcher, 50, is facing charges of attempted theft by unauthorized taking for hopping into the police cruiser outside of a Salem motel room, where officers tracked him down following a burglary at 9 South Policy Street.

Melcher is set to go to trial June 27 in Rockingham County Superior Court on charges of burglary and theft, according to court documents. He has been held at the Rockingham County jail since his arrest.

Melcher was able to get partially into the police cruiser after scuffling with police, but he was stopped with a Taser before he could get the car in gear, police said.

When officers responded following the burglary report, they found a door ajar and a window smashed, and blood nearby, indicating the burglar had apparently been cut during the break-in, according to police. The homeowner told police she had been gone for only about an hour.

A bedroom had been ransacked, police said. The homeowner reported that jewelry and other valuables had been taken, according to police.

Police began canvassing the area and found Melcher in the parking lot of a nearby motel.

Officers who questioned him noticed he had a fresh cut on his hands and later determined that he was in possession of jewelry he could not account for, according to police.

Melcher broke away from police as he was being taken into custody and ran to the police cruiser, police said. While attempting to get in the car, officers drew their Tasers and pulled him from the vehicle, police said.

Melcher is facing a potential 3½ to 7 years in state prison on burglary charge if he is convicted by a jury. He is facing roughly twice as much time — and a $4,000 fine — if he is convicted of stealing the police cruiser.