PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Presque Isle police officers on Thursday arrested two individuals on drug charges and turned a third over to the U.S. Border Patrol after an attempted traffic stop turned into a brief car chase.
After noticing that one of the headlights was not working, Officer Tyler Cote tried to pull over a Hyundai Sonata that was driving on the Connector Road in Presque Isle at about 2 a.m. on March 14. Cote reported that when the driver did not stop, he enlisted the help of Cpl. Lucas Hafford and Officer Tonya Alexander in the pursuit.
Presque Isle police officers on Thursday arrested two individuals on drug charges and turned a third over to the U.S. Border Patrol after an attempted traffic stop turned into a brief car chase. Officers also reported confiscating about 15 grams of methamphetamine, seen here, worth $3,000,
Presque Isle Police Department photo
After leading police on a high-speed chase for about 0.4 miles south, the driver attempted to turn around in a parking lot on Dragon Drive but the car slid into a snowbank, according to police.
The officers detained two occupants of the vehicle — a female driver and male passenger — while another male passenger fled on foot. Police said they later apprehended the male and turned him over to the U.S. Border Patrol for allegedly entering the U.S. illegally from Canada.
The officers reported finding the female driver and male passenger in possession of 15 grams of methamphetamine with a street value of $3,000. Police arrested the woman and charged her with failing to stop for a police officer, driving to endanger, violation of condition of release and unlawful possession of Schedule W drugs. She remained at the Aroostook County Jail in Houlton on Friday. Officers charged the male passenger with trafficking Schedule W drugs. He made bail of $2,000 and was released.
Sgt. Mark Barnes said Friday that the Presque Isle Police Department is not releasing the names of the individuals at this time due to the ongoing investigation. He confirmed that the female driver had violated her conditions of release from a previous arrest for theft.
