LEWISTON — Police chased the driver of a pickup truck through downtown Friday night in a wild pursuit that wound through the outskirts of the city before coming to an end on the Maine Turnpike.
When it was over, police arrested Robert True, 52, of Portland on warrants and other charges. A passenger in his truck, Patricia Poulin, 60, of Lewiston was also charged on warrants, police said.
Police said the pursuit began when an officer spotted the truck being driven erratically downtown.
Several witnesses reported that the chase began at about 6:30 p.m. in the area of Pine Street and continued along Sabattus, Randall and Pond roads.
A woman who lives on Randall Road reported that a Dodge Ram pickup truck passed her home at about 50 mph with four police cruisers not far behind. Another area resident estimated that the truck driver was going “at least 80 mph” at times.
At one point, police broke off the chase for safety reasons. Shortly after, the speeding truck reappeared and the chase resumed.
A woman, who lives near the ballparks at the end of Randall Road, said the driver of the truck tried to hide in the area, but police quickly closed in. One woman said the suspect shut off the truck engine, but when police drew near, she heard the driver start the vehicle up again and moments later, the chase was back on.
Other witnesses reported that shortly 7 p.m., a driver of a truck drove at a high rate of speed up Webster Street and to Alfred Plourde Parkway. Several people said that the driver nearly crashed at least once as the driver headed up the parkway. Others said that pedestrians out walking in the area had to jump out of the way as the truck came roaring by.
A short time later, it was reported that the chase had continued onto the Maine Turnpike and into Auburn. Police confirmed at about 7:20 p.m. that the driver was in custody, although it was not immediately clear how the chase came to an end.
True was being charged with driving with a suspended license, driving as a habitual offender and on warrants. Police said further charges would follow as the investigation got underway.
True’s passenger, Poulin, of 24 Nichols St. was charged on a warrant on charges unrelated to the chase.
No injuries were reported related to the chase.
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