FARMINGTON — A Portland man was arrested on four charges Saturday after he lost control of his vehicle and it landed in a ditch on Perham Street.

Michael A. Reis, 21, was charged with refusing to stop for an officer, refusing to submit to arrest, driving after suspension and violating condition of release, Farmington police secretary Rachel Heseltine said.

Farmington police Sgt. Edward Hastings was traveling east on Perham Street toward Industry about 2:20 a.m. Saturday when he spotted a vehicle stopped in the intersection with Middle Street with its lights off, Heseltine said. A man was standing in front of the vehicle and walked around toward the driver’s seat, she said. Thinking the man’s vehicle was broken down, Hastings went back to check on him.

By that time, the man got into the vehicle and drove toward Industry.  He passed Hastings, and according to Hastings’ report, the man’s behavior seemed abnormal, Heseltine said.

Hastings put on his cruiser lights but the driver failed to stop,  continued to swerve and then lost control of the vehicle. It went over a snowbank and into the ditch, remained running and started to smoke, she said.

Reis came into the Farmington Police Station about 4:30 p.m. Saturday and denied any involvement in the incident but refused to say where he was, she said. During the investigation, he was arrested and taken to Franklin County Detention Center where he was later released on $500 cash bail with a court appearance scheduled for May 8.

abryant@sunjournal.com

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