LEWISTON – A Brunswick man was arrested Tuesday night after a chase that began in Auburn and ended when he jumped out of his car and ran away on foot in Lewiston.

Gerald McNeil, 23, was captured when police from three departments tracked him to a house on South Avenue where he had ditched the car.

McNeil, who has a criminal history of fleeing police, was arrested on a charge of failing to stop and on several warrants, including a pair charging him with habitual driving with a suspended license.

The pursuit began at about 8 p.m. when an off-duty Lisbon police officer spotted McNeil getting into a car at Wal-Mart in Auburn.

The officer was familiar with McNeil after several run-ins with officers in both Lisbon and Brunswick, police said.

The off-duty officer notified Auburn police who soon spotted McNeil driving toward Lewiston. Auburn police followed and alerted Lewiston police that the wanted man was driving into their city.

A Lewiston police officer saw McNeil driving in the area of Pine Street and attempted to pull him over. Police said McNeil kept driving and the pursuit continued onto Sabattus Street, Webster Street and then Webber Avenue.

Driving the speed limit, McNeil than turned left onto Lisbon Street and right onto South Avenue, police said.

A short time later, he drove the car onto a lawn outside 129 South Ave. and took off on foot, police said.

Lewiston and Auburn police swarmed on the neighborhood, with several officers stopping on South Avenue and others heading to Edward Avenue, behind the house where the car was abandoned.

The Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department sent over two officers and a tracking dog to assist with the search. Meanwhile, Auburn and Lewiston police were exchanging information about the suspect. It was learned that McNeil had been staying with a relative on South Avenue and that he may be hiding inside a house.

“There was good communication among the departments,” said Auburn police Lt. Tim Cougle. “Everybody helped out.”

Less than an hour after the chase began, police found McNeil inside the house. He was arrested on warrants and on the charge of failing to stop. He was booked at the Androscoggin County Jail in Auburn where he remained later Tuesday night.