BUCKFIELD – A 24-year-old Mount Vernon man was released from jail Tuesday after leading police on a high-speed chase Friday in Buckfield.

Matthew John Kinney of Long Acres Road is charged with felonies of eluding an officer and assault on an officer, as well as misdemeanors of criminal speed, failure to stop for an officer, operating after suspension, driving to endanger, and improper plates.

Kinney was initially held on $2,500 bail at the Oxford County Jail, but was released on personal recognizance after his initial appearance before Judge Valerie Stanfill in South Paris District Court.

Cpl. Brian Landis of the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office states in an affidavit that he turned to stop Kinney on Turner Street on Friday night after noting that Kinney’s Saturn sedan was missing a headlight. Landis said Kinney sped up to 85 miles per hour on East Buckfield Road, but stopped on Purkis Road.

Landis said he opened the car’s passenger door to order Kinney to turn off the engine, but Kinney instead backed up. Landis said the door hit him and shut on his left hand, injuring it.

Landis said Kinney continued “operating erratically and speeding” along Bear Pond Road and Route 219 before a spike mat set by Trooper Tyler Stevenson of the Maine State Police disabled the vehicle.

According to the report, Landis fired a Taser cartridge at Kinney after he fled on foot, but missed. Landis said Kinney continued to struggle after he caught up to him and was zapped twice with the Taser’s dry stun.

A search of the vehicle revealed a backpack containing needles and a spoon with cocaine residue. According to Landis’ report, Kinney said the paraphernalia belonged to a friend and he was trying to dispose of it in a safe place. Landis also states that Kinney said he stole license plates for the vehicle in Norway and did not stop driving because the vehicle was unregistered and his license was suspended.

Sgt. Timothy Ontengco, Cpl. Justin Brown, and Deputy William Nelson of the Sheriff’s Office and Trooper Kyle Tilsley of the Maine State Police assisted in the chase. Jim Miclon, director of the Oxford County Regional Communications Center, recognized shift supervisor William Daniels and dispatchers Cammie Richardson and Beverly Hall for their assistance.