RANGELEY — A Rangeley man was arrested Saturday after the car he was driving went off the road into a ditch and he took off on foot.

Justin Maclean, 24, of Rangeley was arrested on felony charges of operating after habitual offender revocation and eluding an officer and a misdemeanor charge of driving to endanger, Rangeley police Chief Dennis Leahy said.

Felony convictions on the charges carry up to five years in jail.

While on patrol, Officer John Bonnell recognized Justin Maclean, 24, of Rangeley, whom he knew was classified as a habitual offender and didn’t have a driver’s license, driving a red Saab early Saturday, police Chief Dennis Leahy said Monday.

Bonnell attempted to stop the car, but the Saab accelerated north on Main Street and made a turn onto Loon Lake Road, Leahy said.

The officer saw the car turn onto Cross Street, but when Bonnell arrived the vehicle was in a ditch at the intersection of Allen Street, he said.

The engine was still running and the lights were on, but the driver had fled the scene, Leahy said. Bonnell also noticed that there was damage to the windshield that hadn’t been there before, he said.

Bonnell searched the area for Maclean to see if he was hurt but couldn’t find him, Leahy said.

Bonnell returned to Sarge’s Pub and Grub where he had seen the car stopped earlier and spoke to the owner, Casey Geiger of Rangeley, who is Maclean’s girlfriend, he said.

Geiger had a friend of hers drive her to the accident scene. The car was removed from the ditch, found to be drivable and was driven from the site.

Geiger allowed Bonnell and a U.S. Border Patrol officer into her Main Street apartment to look for Maclean, Leahy said.

Inside they found brown trousers that were wet and soiled from grass and sand, he said.

Maclean was not there.

Police went back to the apartment Saturday afternoon and found Maclean, who was arrested without incident, Leahy said.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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