AUBURN – Police arrested a New Gloucester man Saturday afternoon following a brief car chase that began on Route 100 in Cumberland County and ended in Auburn.

Brian Russell, 31, of 9 McCarthy Road, New Gloucester, was charged with being a habitual offender for driving after suspension. He was taken to the Cumberland County Jail.

Sgt. David Hall of the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office said the chase occurred after Deputy Marc Marion tried to stop Russell’s vehicle on Route 100 in Cumberland County. Marion reported that Russell came close to hitting him as he walked back to his cruiser following a traffic stop at 1:37 p.m.

Hall said Russell stopped once for the deputy in Cumberland County and then suddenly hit the gas and drove off as Marion approached Russell’s 1995 Toyota Camry. Russell then crossed into Androscoggin County, where he eventually stopped again for Marion.

Russell later told authorities he fled because he believed the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office could not arrest him in another county, Hall said. Officers from the Auburn Police Department assisted.