BUCKFIELD – Police with a trained dog tracked the meandering path of Joshua L. Morin, 20, of Buckfield for five miles after Morin ran away from a deputy.
Oxford County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Justin Brown said he originally stopped Morin last week on Morrill Street in Buckfield.
After discovering Morin was in violation of bail conditions, Brown attempted to handcuff him, but Morin took off into the woods.
Brown said he didn’t chase Morin because a tracking dog was in the area already, having been called to the area to find someone who had fled the scene of an accident earlier in the day.
“With a canine, it is better to leave the scent alone and not to disturb to the area,” Brown said, adding later that he warned the fleeing Morin that he would be looking for him with a dog.
Brown said Morin zigzagged through the woods, crossed fields, dipped down to the river and passed through backyards trying to slip away from police.
Finally, Brown and Maine State Police Trooper Adam Fillebrown, who had the tracking dog, discovered Morin hiding in the yard of an elderly woman who lived across the street from Morin’s Depot Street home.
Brown said he saw Morin there, but the suspect took off again. Police tracked him to a hiding place in a swamp, but Morin fled then, too, back to the elderly woman’s house, where he ducked underneath her car.
Brown said he pulled Morin out from under the vehicle.
“He continued to fight and tried to get away again,” Brown said.
Morin was initially charged with escape and refusing to submit to arrest. His first court appearance was last week, and Brown said he posted bail.
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