Traffic stop leads to six-town chase Houlton police capture Waldoboro 19-year-old after car, foot pursuit Friday

HOULTON – A Waldoboro man remained in the Aroostook County Jail on Sunday after leading police on a late-night chase through six towns Friday.

Richard Woodcock, 19, has been charged by Houlton police with speeding, operating a motor vehicle after suspension of his driver’s license and eluding an officer.

Bail on those charges totaled $750 cash or $1,000 single surety, according to Cpl. Thomas Donahue of the Houlton Police Department.

The Maine State Police also have filed charges against Woodcock, but the nature of those charges was not available Sunday.

At about 11:50 p.m. Friday, Donahue stopped Woodcock for reportedly driving 39 mph in a 25-mph zone east on Bangor Street in Houlton. As Donahue was preparing to get out of his cruiser, Woodcock made a U-turn and headed west on Bangor Street, or Route 2A.

Officer Ezekiel Collins of the Houlton Police Department tried to set up spike mats about a mile from where the chase began, but there wasn’t enough time.

The pursuit reached speeds of at least 75 mph from Houlton south through Hodgdon into Linneus.

Donahue found the 2002 Chevrolet pickup Woodcock had been driving abandoned in the parking lot at Grammy’s Country Inn on Route 2A in Linneus.

Aroostook County Sheriff’s Deputy Forest Dudley joined Donahue there, and the two officers began a foot pursuit of Woodcock, following a set of footprints leading from the truck along a snowmobile trail. Dudley also took the keys from the truck and locked it.

The officers followed the footprints through nearby pastures to an apartment complex for senior citizens located along Route 2A near Grammy’s.

There, Donahue said, Trooper John York of the Maine State Police began a second vehicle pursuit of Woodcock, who apparently had a spare set of keys with him to get back into his truck.

York pursued the truck at speeds of up to 80 mph from Linneus, through Township A Range 2 and Forkstown Township into Haynesville.

In Haynesville, Woodcock slowed to about 60 mph, turned onto a side road and headed back north, according to Sgt. Julie Bergan of the Maine State Police.

Dudley set up spike mats in Forkstown Township, where Woodcock drove over them, puncturing two tires. He stopped and was subsequently arrested by York.

The entire incident, including the foot chase, lasted about 45 minutes. The vehicle pursuit covered about 11 miles.