AUGUSTA — An Augusta man was ordered held on $5,000 cash bail Wednesday after an early-morning car chase that police said reached speeds over 100 mph and ended with a crash in Manchester.
Blyn Eric Nadeau Jr., 27, formerly of Bingham and Moscow, made an initial appearance at the Capital Judicial Center via video from the Kennebec County jail on seven charges related to the incident: aggravated driving after habitual offender revocation, driving after license revocation, eluding an officer, criminal speeding, driving to endanger, leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage and failure to report an accident.
The charges are all dated Wednesday, and the complaint says they all occurred in Manchester and Augusta.
Nadeau, who was taken to MaineGeneral Medical Center by police before being taken to the jail, fell asleep while waiting to appear in front of the judge and was awakened by others at the jail.
The chase began shortly after midnight, according to Augusta police. Officers broke off the chase after speeds topped 100 mph, according to an affidavit by Kennebec County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeffrey Boudreau.
Boudreau said he found the white 2008 Mercury Milan just off Prescott Road, upside down in a ditch with extensive damage and no driver. He called for assistance and began searching for the driver.
After a search that included a police dog, Boudreau wrote, a homeowner called police to say that a man was pounding at the door. Deputies and state police found Nadeau there, Boudreau said, and Nadeau appeared to be in pain and had “fresh cuts on his nose, neck and back.”
Boudreau said Nadeau admitted seeing an Augusta cruiser’s flashing blue lights.
Assistant District Attorney David Spencer listed a series of Nadeau’s prior convictions, including a habitual offender conviction from 2015 for which Nadeau spent nine months and a day in jail.
“This defendant shouldn’t be driving, and he put others on the road at extreme risk,” Spencer said.
Attorney Lisa Whittier, lawyer of the day, argued for a lower bail, saying Nadeau would be unable to come up with $10,000.
Judge Eric Walker refused, telling Nadeau that, according to what he read in the affidavit and Nadeau’s criminal history, “I think you are a significant risk to the public.”
A condition of bail prohibits Nadeau from driving for any reason.
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