RAYMOND – Deputies from the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office were unsuccessful Tuesday in catching a suspect who used a canoe to elude authorities.

Police said Nicholas Mains, 29, of 107 Meadow Road in Raymond, was a passenger in a pickup truck stopped on Route 302 around 8:45 a.m. Capt. Don Goulet of the Sheriff’s Office said several officers were in the area for a roadblock to check for license suspensions, and the truck turned abruptly onto Main Street when it saw notification of the checkpoint.

After the stop, Mains bailed out of the vehicle and fled into the woods. The driver of the truck was not charged.

A Sheriff’s Office statement said Mains found a deputy at his residence, ran to an adjacent beach and used a canoe to paddle across Panther Pond. He landed the canoe on the eastern shore near the Ai Road and led police on a foot chase.

The search for Mains was called off at 12:30 p.m. after an unsuccessful dog track.

Mains is wanted on charges of failure to appear after bail and failure to appear for theft charges in York County. Goulet was unsure if Cumberland County would file new charges against Mains, though he may be charged with failure to submit to arrest.

The roadblock led to the arrests of Elden Martin, 40, of Bridgton, and Eric Finnen, 35, of Harrison, on charges of operating after license suspension. Deputies also handed out six warnings for motor vehicle violations and a summons for possession of marijuana.

Anyone with information on Mains is asked to call the Cumberland County tip line at 1-800-266-1444, ext. 2208.