LEWISTON – A brief motorcycle chase at dangerous speeds ended Wednesday night when the driver dumped his bike at Webster Street and Old Webster Road, police said.

Justin Smith, 27, of Minot failed to stop on Scribner Boulevard when police attempted to pull him over for erratic operation, Lewiston police Lt. Jim Minkowsky said. From Scribner Boulevard, Smith made a right turn onto Webster Street, where he reached excessive speeds that forced police to stop the chase, Minkowsky said.

“I made the decision to end the chase because we were in a residential area,” he explained. “It wasn’t worth putting the public at risk.”

Even though the chase ended, police continued to follow the taillights of the bike at a slower speed. According to Minkowsky, it didn’t take long to find Smith and his damaged motorcycle in a wooded area off Webster Street.

“From the looks of it, he drove through some small trees and narrowly missed a few big ones,” he said. “His helmet, which was severely damaged, may have saved his life.”

Smith was taken to Central Maine Medical Center with unspecified injuries. Police estimated $2,000 damage to the motorcycle.

Because of his injuries, Smith was summoned on a charge of failure to stop for an officer and other traffic misdemeanors.