SKOWHEGAN — A former volunteer Belgrade firefighter began serving a four-month jail sentence Wednesday on eight criminal charges in connection with to a high-speed chase in February with police in Somerset County.
Ryan Bruce Galouch, 20, pleaded guilty to the charges Wednesday in a Somerset County courtroom and was sentenced to three years in prison, with all but 120 days suspended, and two years of probation once he gets out, according to court records.
He entered guilty pleas to eluding an officer, passing a police roadblock, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, refusing to submit to arrest or detention, refusing to submit in a situation that created a substantial risk of bodily injury to the law enforcement officer, failure to stop for an officer, motor vehicle speeding 30-plus mph over the speed limit, and driving to endanger.
Contacted Thursday afternoon by phone at the fire station, Scott Damren, assistant fire chief for the North Belgrade station, said he was not authorized to discuss personnel matters or town issues. Belgrade Fire Chief Daniel MacKenzie could not be reached for comment and Belgrade Town Manager Carrie Castonguay said she was unfamiliar with the Galouch case.
Multiple law enforcement agencies were taken on a high-speed chase through several Somerset County towns Feb. 28 after Galouch’s Nissan Sentra nearly collided with a Skowhegan police cruiser.
The chase reportedly started on Route 201 in Skowhegan when Skowhegan police Officer Katelyn Treylino, now a detective, attempted to stop Galouch for speeding more than 30 mph over the speed limit. According to a news release in February from the Skowhegan Police Department, Galouch almost crashed into Treylino’s cruiser before speeding away.
Galouch then reached speeds of 100-110 mph during the chase through Skowhegan, Canaan and Pittsfield before being stopped at a roadblock on Interstate 95 in Newport. The chase involved Somerset County Sheriff’s deputies and Maine State Police. According to police, Galouch evaded spike mats set up to puncture his tires at two roadblocks during the chase.
When he was stopped, Galouch identified himself as a Belgrade firefighter and told Treylino he sped off because he had marijuana in the car, according to the news release. Galouch was a firefighter in Belgrade at the time but is no longer is a member of the department.
Galouch will serve his jail time at the Somerset County Jail in East Madison.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.