Staff Writer
CARIBOU — Working as a cohesive unit, the Caribou Police officers and Maine State Troopers apprehended a Caribou teen after a reckless high speed chase through the city streets of Caribou on late Saturday night. The chase, which took Caribou Police Officer Bell and State Trooper Marquis on a wild ride on busy streets, concluded with no injuries after the stolen Jeep Liberty struck a telephone pole after ramming the back of Bell’s unit, causing approximately $5,000 worth of damage.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
During the chase through Caribou on Saturday night, a fleeing teenager attempted to escape local law enforcement by ramming his way through. The ‘evasive maneuver’ caused an estimated $5,000 damage to the police vehicle.
Jason Boyd, 18, of Caribou was arrested late Saturday night with a number of charges, including operating under the influence of drugs, reckless conduct, operating after suspension, speeding 30-plus miles per hour over the limit, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and elluding a police officer, which is a felony.
The Maine Department of Transportation is still working out an estimate for the damage caused to a guardrail and city streets by Boyd’s rampage.
The chase began when Caribou Officer Jandreau responded to a call regarding Boyd’s vehicle parked in an intersection.
When Officer Jandreau arrived on the scene, Boyd made a 180-degree turn and fled, driving at speeds estimated to be up to 90 miles per hour and driving down the wrong side of the bypass highway into oncoming traffic.
Officer Bell then picked up pursuit, getting on the intercom and telling Boyd to “stop before someone gets killed.”
The chase finally ended on South Main Street when Officer Bell was able to position his vehicle in front of Boyd in an attempt to slow him down. Not eager to stop, Boyd rammed the cruiser, causing himself to lose control of his vehicle and hit a telephone pole.
Neither Boyd nor Officer Bell sustained injuries from the crash.
At the time of the chase and the collision that followed, Boyd was under the influence of over the counter cold medication. He was taken to the Caribou Police Station, where he was processed and was released on bail.
Boyd’s court date is scheduled for July 22.
