PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — An Ashland man faces numerous charges after allegedly ramming his car into several emergency and police vehicles as officers attempted to apprehend him in the Northern Light A.R. Gould Hospital parking lot on Sunday.
James Arey, 42, has been charged with driving to endanger, terrorizing, aggravated reckless conduct, aggravated reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, aggravated criminal mischief and criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, Presque Isle Police Chief Laurie Kelly said. His bail was set at $5,000.
On Sunday, the Ashland Ambulance Service responded to a call to treat Arey, who Kelly said had overdosed on prescription medications. When emergency medical officials arrived, Arey appeared suicidal and allegedly threatened EMS staff with a knife.
Arey proceeded to drive to the parking lot of Northern Light A.R. Gould Hospital in Presque Isle as an Ashland Ambulance vehicle followed his vehicle. Arey rammed his vehicle into the Ashland Ambulance vehicle, Presque Isle Police cruisers and a personal vehicle when police tried to apprehend him, police said. He also drove at officers, seemingly trying to run them over, Kelly said.
Arey’s vehicle eventually became stuck near A.R. Gould’s helipad, after which officers arrested him. He was treated at A.R. Gould before being taken to Aroostook County Jail in Houlton.
No one was injured, but there was severe damage done to the Ashland Ambulance’s vehicle, a Presque Isle Police cruiser and his own vehicle.
A.R. Gould spokesperson Karen Gonya said the only information she could disclose was that a car accident had occurred in the parking lot of the hospital’s emergency department and that there were no injuries.
