2 charged after chase over empty till

BANGOR – Crime did not pay for two area men arrested early Sunday morning as they led police on an 8-mile car chase, trying to get away with a stolen cash register.

As it turned out, the cash register was empty, said state police Trooper Seth Edwards.

Driver Austin Fullerton, 22, of Dixmont was charged with operating after license suspension, eluding a police officer, passing a roadblock, receiving stolen property and refusing to sign a summons, Edwards said.

At the time of his arrest, Fullerton was wanted by police for probation revocation warrants connected to unrelated crimes, including burglary to a motor vehicle, theft and violation of conditions of release, Edwards said. Fullerton also was wanted for an unpaid fine.

Passenger Michael Ely, 20, of Plymouth was arrested on outstanding warrants stemming from theft and burglary charges.

The two were taken to Penobscot County Jail in Bangor, where they are being held without bail pending their initial appearances in Bangor District Court today, Edwards said.

Two female minors who were riding in the car were not arrested or charged, Edwards said.

The trouble began on Interstate 395 at 12:17 a.m., when Edwards attempted to pull Fullerton’s red 1992 Volkswagen over for a traffic violation. Fullerton refused to stop and continued on to the Odlin Road, where he drove around the Ramada Inn, got onto Route 2 and headed into Target Industrial Park. Ely was spotted throwing items out of the car’s passenger-side window. Edwards said the discarded items were determined to be cash register parts and receipt rolls.

Fullerton then got back onto Route 2 and then headed south on Interstate 95 with police in pursuit. Edwards said Fullerton was traveling at speeds of 90 to 95 mph. The motorist was finally stopped when he drove over spike mats police put out just before the Carmel-Winterport exit to Route 69.

There, Fullerton and Ely abandoned their vehicle on the off ramp and fled into nearby woods on foot. Fullerton was quickly apprehended by Edwards and his police dog, Boris.

Edwards said police were not aware of Ely’s involvement until they interviewed witnesses.

Police returned to the arrest scene and found Ely’s footprints in the snow. They tracked the footprints through two yards and into a Route 69 home. The home’s occupants were asleep. After the occupants were awakened and the house searched, police found Ely hiding in a pile of laundry in the basement, Edwards said. The homeowners chose not to press charges because Ely was a family friend.

Edwards said he was assisted by personnel from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department and the Bangor and Hampden police departments.