WATERBORO — After allegedly using a child as a shield and leading sheriff deputies on a chase, a Waterboro man is being held without bail at York County Jail in Alfred.

On Sunday at approximately 7:30 p.m., York County Sheriff deputies responded to Orchard Drive in Waterboro for a report of a disturbance, according to a press release from York County Sheriff William King. Vincent Cole, 28, had allegedly been involved in a domestic disturbance with his girlfriend. He was not at the scene when deputies arrived.

Deputies were aware that Cole has bail conditions from an arrest for elevated aggravated assault last month in which he is suspected of stabbing a bystander, said King.

In addition, one condition of Cole’s release (from the earlier charges) was that he was supposed to be at his Orchard Road residence from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., said King. When deputies cleared the residence at 8:20 p.m., Cole had not returned home.

Deputies searched around the Lake Arrowhead community in Waterboro for Cole, King said. At approximately 9:15 p.m., deputies found Cole driving, despite having a suspended driver’s license, according to the sheriff.

When deputies tried to stop Cole, he attempted to elude them, said King. Cole sped up and took a series of abrupt turns. As he approached his house, he opened the vehicle door and jumped out of the moving vehicle. The vehicle crashed into some debris and came to a stop when it struck a boulder. Cole fled into his house with deputies in close pursuit.  

Cole did not comply with orders to submit to arrest but advanced toward a deputy, King said. The deputy drew his taser and again ordered Cole to submit; instead, Cole allegedly grabbed a small child (believed to be his daughter) and used her as a shield. The child’s mother retrieved the child from Cole and he then submitted to arrest.

Cole was arrested and charged with: violation of conditional release, refusing to stop for a police officer, and driving to endanger, all Class E misdemeanors; endangering the welfare of a child; operating after suspension; and failure to wear a seat belt. Cole was denied bail and is scheduled to be video arraigned today.

A copy of the sheriff office’s report will be forwarded to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services for review and follow up.

In a prior incident on July 7, a party on Landry Road  in Waterboro had gotten out hand and Cole who had a attended the party had been asked to leave by the homeowner after apparently damaging some property, King said last month.

Cole didn’t comply and a physical altercation ensued, King said. Before fleeing outside, Cole assaulted the property owner and another man who intervened with an aluminum pipe.

A crowd formed around Cole to confront him, King said, when he produced a knife and threatened several people before stabbing a man identified as a guest of a nearby lakehouse who came to the scene after hearing screams. King said that man was stabbed by Cole unprovoked.

Cole fled with deputies in pursuit and was apprehended, King said. He was charged with one count of elevated aggravated assault, a Class A felony.