RUMFORD — Local police arrested two people Wednesday afternoon on York Street following Tuesday’s 16-mile chase through Rumford, Mexico and Dixfield.
Jennifer Malchisky Rumford Police Department photo
Police Chief Tony Milligan said Jennifer Malchisky, 40, of Mexico was charged with felony eluding police, passing police roadblocks, reckless conduct with a motor vehicle, driving to endanger, operating after suspension and violation of conditions of release.
Charles McCausland, 38, of Rumford was charged with being an accomplice to eluding police, accomplice to reckless conduct with a motor vehicle, and violation of conditions of release.
Milligan said police detectives conducted a felony drug investigation on Maine Avenue on Tuesday afternoon and approached two suspects sitting in a black Ford Focus. When the detectives attempted to detain the suspects, the woman and man took off in the vehicle.
Police pursued them into Mexico and Dixfield and back into Mexico before their vehicle sustained disabling damage on a narrow ATV trail along the Swift River in Mexico. The suspects abandoned the vehicle and ran off on foot.
Several residents in the Oak Street area of Mexico saw the occupants of the car driving recklessly through their neighborhood, and directed police to 6 Oak St. where they saw Malchisky and McCausland enter and go to the second floor apartment.
Officers from Rumford and Mexico police departments, state police, the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office and the Maine Warden Service surrounded the apartment building and ordered the occupants to come out but they refused.
Charles McCausland Rumford Police Department photo
Police entered the apartment and found two men hiding inside. Police identified them and determined they were not the ones they had been chasing, but learned one had a warrant of arrest for a forgery case in Franklin County. He was taken into custody and transported to the Oxford County Jail in Paris.
Milligan said police searched the building for Malchisky and McCausland but could not locate them.
Because of the proximity to local schools and the fact that students were about to be dismissed for the day, police advised the schools to keep the students there until the situation was under control. The order to shelter was lifted about a half-hour later.
Acting on several tips received from the community Wednesday, police checked areas and encountered Malchisky and McCausland in another vehicle parked on Knox Street. Police immediately took them into custody without incident.
In addition to the charges resulting from Tuesday’s chase, Malchisky was arrested on outstanding warrants from Franklin County for failure to appear for felony forgery and felony theft, and McCausland was arrested for outstanding warrants for possession of fentanyl, possession of scheduled drugs and violation of conditions of release.
Both were transported to the Oxford County Jail.
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