Presque Isle man, woman face charges in high-speed chase

PRESQUE ISLE – A local man and woman were arrested Tuesday after allegedly making a false claim that someone stole the man’s car and used it in a high-speed chase, according to Detective Wayne Selfridge of the Presque Isle Police Department.

Robert Charette, 34, and Lorraine Webb-Davenport, 51, both of Presque Isle, are scheduled to appear on July 28 in Presque Isle District Court on charges related to a high-speed chase that occurred on May 7.

The chase began in Presque Isle when Officer Kevin Schumacher attempted to stop a vehicle because he suspected the driver to be operating under the influence. According to police, the driver sped off and a 30-minute chase through Washburn and Mapleton followed. The chase ended in Mapleton when the driver stopped the pickup truck and ran away. Police were unable to locate the driver, but did identify the vehicle, Selfridge said Tuesday.

Police spoke with Charette, owner of the pickup truck, and Webb-Davenport soon after the incident. Police said the two have a relationship but declined to indicate what it was. Webb-Davenport reported to police that the vehicle was stolen and Charette substantiated her claim, Selfridge said.

Upon further investigation, police gathered information that led them to arrest Charette and Webb-Davenport, though Selfridge declined to reveal the information.

The detective would say only that police suspect that Charette substantiated Webb-Davenport’s claims to cover up the fact that he was the driver in the high-speed chase.

Charette was charged with eluding an officer, driving to endanger, unsworn falsification, criminal speeding and criminal threatening. He was released on $1,000 cash bail.

Webb-Davenport was charged with making a false public report and was released on personal recognizance bail.