Maine State Police arrested a Presque Isle man Sunday morning following a car chase that authorities said reached speeds of more than 100 mph.
The suspect, George Peaslee, 38, drove off with stolen goods and without paying for gas at a store on Main Street in Presque Isle, state police said in a statement. The theft was reported around 8 a.m.
It took more than an hour for local and state police to find Peaslee, but when they finally pulled his 2010 Ford Taurus over, Peaslee informed the officers that he was not going to get out of his vehicle. He then sped off with state troopers Andrew Levesque and Sgt. Jeffrey Clark in pursuit.
“Peaslee was driving in a reckless and dangerous manner with speeds reaching more than 100 mph at times,” Clark said.
Officers from the Caribou Police Department set up a spike mat and roadblock near the Caribou Motor Inn on Route 1, but that did not slow Peaslee down.
His car drove over the mat, which punctured three of his four vehicle tires. Trooper Levesque eventually was able to cut Peaslee off with his cruiser, but Peaslee still refused to get out of his car. Police had to break his car windows to get him out of the vehicle.
No one was injured during the chase and both vehicles had minor damage. Peaslee was taken to the Aroostook County Jail, where he was being held Sunday night without bail on charges of eluding police, driving to endanger, criminal speed, reckless conduct, refusing to submit to arrest, passing a police roadblock and violating conditions of release.
He is also facing a charge of theft.
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