FARMINGTON — The jail inmate who allegedly assaulted an officer and a woman in her home during a 30-minute escape from a sheriff’s department transport van in March has been indicted on numerous felony and misdemeanor charges by the Franklin County grand jury.
Derek Cook, 31, of Wilton was indicted on 11 counts: robbery, Class A; escape, Class B; burglary, Class B; theft by unauthorized taking, Class C; eluding an officer, Class C; assault on an officer, Class C; assault, Class D; criminal mischief, Class D; driving to endanger, Class E; criminal speeding, Class E; and operating after suspension, Class E.
Cook escaped custody March 1 while being taken from the Androscoggin County Jail, where he was on a probation hold, to the Franklin County Jail in Farmington.
Franklin County transport officer Phil Richards was driving the van, which also had two other inmates on board, when Cook slipped out of one of his handcuffs and escaped out the side door of the van on Route 133 in Wilton, according to a news release from Sheriff Scott Nichols at the time.
Richards, the only officer in the van, stopped the van when he noticed Cook acting suspiciously in the back. Once the van was stopped, and Cook had bailed out the side door, Richards chased after the inmate, stopping him at the tree line.
Once Richards caught up with Cook, the two struggled, but Richards was able to get Cook back to the van. There another fight ensued, and Cook kicked Richards to the ground.
Richards deployed pepper spray, which was unsuccessful in subduing Cook, who, still in ankle-shackles and a stomach band, ran down Route 133.
A review of the incident conducted by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department found that Richards’ portable radio and cellphone were broken during the scuffle with Cook, preventing him from calling for assistance until he returned to the van and used the built-in radio.
After escaping from custody, Cook then allegedly broke into a home on Route 133, assaulted the homeowner and stole her Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Cook drove off toward Route 2, where police caught up with him. Cook led state, Wilton and Farmington police on a chase through Wilton and into Chesterville.
According to the indictments, Cook reached speeds of 110 mph during the chase before losing control of the vehicle when he tried to turn onto Zion Hill Road and crashed into a tree.
He was then taken into custody by Maine State Police.
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