FARMINGTON —  Police are looking for a driver accused of stealing three vehicles and crashing one.

About 4 a.m. Monday, Adam Welch, an officer with the University of Maine at Farmington, attempted to stop a vehicle that was going excessively fast on Main Street in Farmington, said Deputy Chief Shane Cote of Farmington Police Department.  

Farmington Officer Brandon Tiner spotted the car on Route 27.  The driver took off again at a high rate of speed, Cote said.

Tiner backed off but drove as far as New Vineyard. On his way back, he spotted the car in a New Vineyard driveway.

A second car then sped out of the driveway. Tiner again backed off when the vehicle reached a high rate of speed traveling down Route 27, Cote said.

When Tiner reached the intersection of Route 4 and 27, the vehicle he was following had crashed going over a guardrail and down an embankment.

A canine unit was called to help search for the driver.

Police then learned of a vehicle abandoned on the Temple Road, one that was stolen from a Barlen Street residence, he said.  Barlen Street is near the intersection of Route 4 and 27.

Police have since learned that the initial vehicle, with New Hampshire plates and left in New Vineyard, was reported stolen in New Hampshire. The second vehicle, stolen from the New Vineyard driveway, crashed and the third vehicle from Barlen Street, was abandoned.

Three canine units attempted to track the driver from the Temple location but were called off.  The heat and humidity interfered and police are not sure which direction he took. The driver could have headed down the Russell Mills Road or the Cummings Hill area, Cote said.

Tiner was able to see the driver at one point and identify the car occupant as a male.

Officers from Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, State Police, game wardens and Wilton Police assisted Farmington and UMF Police.

abryant@sunmediagroup.net

Copy the Story Link