SIDNEY — Two men were arrested over the weekend after they led police on a high-speed chase that began in Augusta and later ended in Sidney where a police cruiser struck their car to make it stop, Maine State Police said Thursday.
Robert Lacroix, 35, of Augusta and Christopher Chrysler, 36, of Fairfield were arrested early Saturday after the car Lacroix was driving was forced to stop, according to a news release from Shannon Moss, spokeswoman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.
Lacroix was charged with aggravated criminal mischief, eluding an officer, operating after suspension, operating under the influence, refusing to submit to arrest or detention, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Chrysler was charged with unlawful possession of a scheduled drug, violation of condition of release, and refusing to submit to arrest or detention.
Moss said both men have extensive criminal records.
The incident began at about 2:30 a.m. Saturday when an Augusta police officer began to pursue a black 2023 Hyundai Elantra on Civic Center Drive on suspicion that the driver was impaired. The Elantra sped away and traveled onto the northbound lanes of Interstate 95 before police lost sight of the car and ended the pursuit, Moss said.
The car was later spotted traveling into Oakland where Oakland police and the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office picked up the pursuit after the car again failed to stop, Moss said. The Elantra then got back onto the interstate, this time traveling southbound, where State Police took up the pursuit.
The car exited in Sidney where troopers forced the car to stop. Lacroix and Chrysler then fled on foot, according to Moss. After a brief chase, both were apprehended and arrested.
A loaded firearm and a drug believed to be fentanyl were found in the car, she said.
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