Biker arrested after high-speed chase in Bangor

Bangor police arrested an Orrington motorcyclist for eluding and criminal speeding after a high-speed chase from Main Street to Pushaw Road on Tuesday night.

Officer Dan Herrick said Officer Steve Jordan radioed at about 10:30 p.m. saying a man on a red motorcycle had lost him at the Fourteenth Street extension as he pursued it at high speed through side streets in Bangor. Jordan said he heard the motorcycle squeal its tires out of the Gold Star Cleaners lot and saw it run a red light at very high speed.

When other officers farther along Fourteenth Street said they had not seen the motorcycle, Herrick went out to Griffin Road in case the biker had left the city. He said he saw a red Buell motorcycle turn from Griffin onto Ohio Street and continue outbound.

Herrick said he lost sight of the motorcycle a few times as the biker passed cars in dangerous spots along Ohio Street, Finson and Pushaw roads, so he had to follow the dust trail.

He found the motorcycle on Pushaw Road with Christopher Ring, 23, of Orrington, astride it. Herrick said Ring was cooperative as Herrick arrested him for eluding and criminal speeding.

Ring explained that he had panicked, Herrick said.

An Eddington man was arrested for driving under the influence after allegedly taking his brother’s pain medication Wednesday morning.

Bangor police Officer Robert Hutchings said a driver called at about 9:30 a.m. saying he was behind a car that was driving erratically down Ohio Street.

Hutchings caught up to the blue Ford Aspire at the Hammond Street intersection, he said, but did not notice anything unusual about the car’s movement until it took a wide turn onto First Street, where Hutchings stopped it.

Hutchings said the driver, William Wardwell, 38, denied having had any alcohol or taking any prescription or illegal drugs. Wardwell’s speech was sluggish and slurred, Hutchings said, and he had poor balance as he exited the car. Hutchings said Wardwell performed poorly on field sobriety tests. He was arrested for operating under the influence.

Wardwell’s passenger, his brother Matthew, told Hutchings Wardwell had taken some of Matthew’s Fiorinal, a pain medication. He said Wardwell had not reacted well to the drug.

The original complainant later told Hutchings that Wardwell had been driving all over the road, into the opposite lane, and nearly sideswiped an oncoming truck.

Bangor police arrested a man who reportedly stole liquor from Shaw’s Supermarket on Main Street.

Officer James Dearing said two witnesses reported seeing a man, later identified as Brian Huckins, run out of the store with a half-gallon of Captain Morgan and a 30-pack of Bud Ice beer.

When Officers Dan Herrick and David Bushey stopped Huckins on Main Street, Dearing said, he claimed to have paid more than $60 for the beverages but could show no receipt.

– Compiled by NEWS reporter Isaac Kimball