CARIBOU/LIMESTONE — What began as a minor traffic infraction quickly turned into a chase that injured one officer and caused thousands of dollars worth of damage.
Contributed photo
The damage done to the Limestone police cruiser during the chase is estimated to be in the thousands.
Caribou Police Officer Eric Jandreau attempted to stop a motor vehicle on Route 89 at approximately 7 a.m. yesterday for a minor traffic infraction, the driver of which was later identified as Michael Hornick, 50, of Caribou.
The car turned into Lazy Acre Trailer Park and came to a stop; as Officer Jandreau stepped out of his cruiser to approach the vehicle, it took off, turning down Route 89 and heading toward Limestone at speeds no faster than 75 miles per hour. Hornick, the driver, turned onto the West Gate Road and headed north before turning into the West Gate Trailer Park just as students were getting on the morning bus. He stopped the vehicle for the children and Officer Jandreau again attempted to approach the car, which again took off on a loop around the trailer park; during Hornick’s second loop around the trailer park Caribou Police Officer Douglas Bell arrived to take over as the primary officer in pursuit.
While the vehicle stopped again, Officer Bell pulled up in front of it. Hornick maneuvered his vehicle around Bell’s cruiser as the officer instructed him to stop. Hornick proceeded to drive through the park at higher speeds than previously and waved at neighborhood residents who were outside watching the chase.
As Hornick’s vehicle approached the main road, Limestone Police Officer Jesse Cormier, who had just arrived, was able to position his cruiser in such as way as to prevent the vehicle from accessing the roadway.
Hornick drove into the front of the Limestone cruiser causing damage. Officer Bell exited his patrol car and shocked the driver with a Tazer, but the car still sped off yet again directly at the Limestone cruiser.
As Officer Cormier was attempting to get back into the cruiser and out of the way of the quickly approaching vehicle, Hornick’s vehicle struck the driver’s side door of the Limestone cruiser, slightly injuring the Limestone Officer with the car door before speeding back toward Route 89.
Officers eventually stopped and blocked the vehicle at C&J’s on Route 89, where officers twice shocked Hornick due to his hostility and aggression toward the officers.
Hornick was eventually taken out of his vehicle and handcuffed. An unidentified passenger in the vehicle, also from Caribou, was questioned and then released.
Horick was charged with operating under the influence, aggravated operating under suspension (habitual offender status), eluding an officer, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon (the car), aggravated criminal mischief, assault and passing a roadblock.
Damage to the Limestone police cruiser is estimated to be in the thousands, as is the damage to Hornick’s 1990 Infinity.
Maine State Trooper Todd Stetson investigated the accident involving the Limestone police cruiser and a U.S. Border Patrol Agent also assisted with the investigation.
Bail for Horick was set at $25,000 cash or $50,000 single surety.
