FARMINGTON — A Livermore Falls woman accused of assaulting a Jay police officer and of having heroin, cocaine and fentanyl was indicted Wednesday on 10 charges.
Melissa J. Couture, 34, of 53 West Loop in Livermore Falls was indicted on felony charges of assault on an officer, eluding an officer and unlawful possession of heroin. She was also indicted on misdemeanor charges of unlawful possession of cocaine, unlawful possession of fentanyl, operating under the influence of intoxicants, unauthorized use of a vehicle, refusing to submit to arrest, failure to stop for a police officer and operating after suspension.
Jay officer Dylan Rider stopped Couture in an SUV on Dec. 8, 2017, on Riley Road, after he noticed the temporary license plate on the vehicle was expired. Couture pulled the vehicle into the Keneco Kwik gas station and gave Rider a false name, Jay Police Richard Caton IV previously said.
While Rider was trying to identify her, Couture was standing outside the vehicle, ran and jumped into the 2016 Toyota RAV4, Caton said. Rider tried to stop her, but Couture put her foot on the gas pedal and took off, throwing Rider to the ground, he had said.
The vehicle drove through the gas station lot and onto Route 4 heading north. Rider tried to catch up with it but could not, Caton said.
Livermore Falls officer Darian Nadeau spotted the vehicle on Jewell Street in Jay and it sped off north on Route 133, also known as Franklin Road, Caton said. A short chase ensued and the driver jumped from the SUV and fled into the woods off Route 133. The vehicle kept going into a ditch.
Livermore Falls and Jay police apprehended her while Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Andrew Morgan assisted and Lt. David Rackliffe and his K-9 Justice searched for evidence.
The owner had reported the SUV stolen, Caton previously said.
Couture was taken to a Farmington hospital to be treated and then at the Franklin County Detention Center in Farmington.
She was released Dec. 9 on $7,900 cash bail, according to a corrections officer.
dperry@sunmediagroup.net
Melissa Couture (Franklin County Detention Center)
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