Topsham police arrested a man they say was operating under the influence of inhalants after responding to a crash Monday night that turned into an odd, slowspeed chase on Interstate 295.
Topsham Police Lt. Fred Dunn said police arrested John Yates, 44, of Topsham, and charged him with failure to stop for a police officer — a Class E crime, operating under the influence of drugs — a Class D crime, driving to endanger — a Class E crime and unlawful use or possession of inhalants, which is a civil infraction.
The initial incident occurred on Route 196 and was reported to police at 8:11 p.m.
Dunn said Yates was driving a silver 2006 Ford Escape on Route 196 and ended up on a resident’s lawn. Allegedly, some words were exchanged, Yates got out of the vehicle “and was staring at the homeowner” before he got back in his vehicle and drove to the nearby J&S Oil parking lot.
The homeowner, meanwhile, called police and then noticed Yates leave the parking lot and get onto Interstate 295 southbound.
Topsham police officer Randy Cook responded and found the vehicle on the I- 295 southbound breakdown lane, Dunn said. As Cook was pulling in behind the vehicle and activated flashers, “the vehicle took off,” Dunn said, cutting back into traffic and into the path of a tractor trailer truck, causing the truck to swerve and nearly hit the police cruiser still in the breakdown lane.
Cook pursued Yates at speeds only reaching about 45 miles per hour, Dunn said. Yates was reportedly driving erratically before finally striking a guardrail about a mile down the road. That caused him to lose control of the car and cross both lanes of the highway and end up in a ditch, according to police.
The officer then approached the vehicle. Dunn said Yates apparently ignored Cook’s commands and attempted to put the vehicle in reverse.
After two Brunswick police officers responded to assist, Yates was forcibly removed from the vehicle, Dunn said, and taken into custody. He was unable to post bail and was transported to Two Bridges Regional Jail.
According to Dunn, there was a six pack of compressed air cans in Yates’ vehicle, and before Yates was removed from the Ford Escape, he allegedly tried to take a huff off one of the cans.
The vehicle, which sustained substantial front end damage, was towed. Maine State Police also responded to the incident on I-295 to take the crash report.
dmoore@timesrecord.com
Charge list
TOPSHAM POLICE Lt. Fred Dunn said police arrested John Yates, 44, of Topsham, and charged him with failure to stop for a police officer — a Class E crime, operating under the influence of drugs — a Class D crime, driving to endanger — a Class E crime and unlawful use or possession of inhalants, which is a civil infraction.
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