LEWISTON – A man accused of leading police on a car chase before disappearing on foot into Auburn woods late Wednesday turned himself over to court officials on Thursday.

John Daigle, 30, of 49 Short St., Auburn, was charged with eluding police and violating probation.

Police spent hours searching for Daigle early Thursday morning in the woods off Jennifer Drive in Auburn.

Investigators said that is where Daigle ditched his Dodge Durango after leading police on a high-speed chase that started on Pleasant Street in Lewiston.

Into the morning hours, police used tracking dogs and night vision goggles in an attempt to locate Daigle in the woods along Washington Street.

“Unfortunately, the weather conditions were not very helpful, between the rain and the fog” said Lewiston police Lt. Tom Avery. “It was a heavily wooded area we were searching in. The officers stayed out there for a long time.”

Police from four agencies hunted for Daigle after the car chase that moved along the Maine Turnpike and Washington Street. His whereabouts remained unknown until shortly after 1 p.m. when Daigle turned himself in at 8th District Court in Lewiston.

Investigators said the urgency in the search for Daigle was based on a complaint made by his ex-girlfriend, who has a restraining order against him.

After the ex-girlfriend called police at about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday to report seeing him near her home, responding officers found Daigle driving in the area.

Officers Brian Ames and Justin Kittredge stopped the Durango. But after speaking with the officers for less than a minute, Daigle sped off down Pleasant Street, investigators said.

While officers from Auburn, Lewiston and Maine State Police attempted to determine where the suspect was heading, Androscoggin County Sheriff’s officials responded with a tracking dog.

Avery said while Daigle was driving at more than 90 mph, officers were preparing to back off if the chase appeared to threaten other motorists. Instead, Daigle ditched the car at the dead end at Jennifer Drive and the foot pursuit began.

Where Daigle spent the early morning hours Thursday remained unknown. By Thursday night, he was being held without bail at the Androscoggin County Jail. Police said further charges may be filed based on the complaint that led to the chase Wednesday night.

“The matter is still under investigation,” Avery said. “There are still a lot of pieces we’re trying to pull together.”

mlaflamme@sunjournal.com

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