PRESQUE ISLE – A Mapleton woman was behind bars Tuesday after she allegedly stole a cruiser from the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department and struck an officer in an attempt to escape, according to the sheriff.

Jeanine Williams, 44, of Mapleton was arrested and charged with operating under the influence, unauthorized use of property, and likely will be charged with escape, Sheriff James P. Madore said Tuesday.

Williams received the charges the second time police handcuffed her.

Sgt. Forrest Dudley of the Sheriff’s Department first encountered Williams around 8 a.m. Tuesday in the Smith Road-State Road area of Mapleton after his agency received a report of a possible drunken driver.

Dudley administered sobriety tests and determined the woman was under the influence of drugs or alcohol – police would not say which. He then handcuffed her and put her in the passenger seat of his cruiser, the sheriff said.

The agency’s policy is to take people into custody by handcuffing them and placing them in the front seat of the car where they can “keep an eye on them.” Deputy vehicles do not have cages to separate the front and back seats.

Police determined that while Dudley was interviewing a witness, Williams was able to maneuver herself so her hands were in front of her. She then allegedly got into the driver’s seat, hit the gas pedal and struck Dudley as she fled, Madore said.

At that point, the sheriff said, Dudley pulled out his gun.

“Knowing this person was impaired and had a total disregard for people – she ran him over so what would she do to the public? – and the fact that Dudley’s shotgun was in the vehicle, he attempted to stop the car by shooting twice at the tires as it was fleeing away,” Madore said. “When we found the vehicle, the left rear tire was destroyed where it had been run on the rim, so it looked like he hit the tire.”

The Maine State Police Criminal Investigation Division is investigating the incident because Dudley used “lethal force” when he fired shots at the car, Madore said.

Aside from the tire, the car was undamaged. Madore said the gun in the back seat appeared to be untouched. He added that Dudley was not seriously injured in the incident but did visit The Aroostook Medical Center later Tuesday to be checked out.

Once Williams fled, several law enforcement agencies converged on the area to offer assistance, including the Maine State Police, Presque Isle Police Department, State Fire Marshal’s Office, U.S. Border Patrol and Maine Warden Service.

“As soon as the first officer got there and picked up Dudley, we started coordinating where to look and determining where she could go,” Madore said.

Police found Williams after witnesses reported seeing her get out of a taxi near her Mapleton apartment. Aroostook County sheriff’s Deputy Mike Montpetit and other officers arrested Williams without incident. Madore said Williams was not wearing handcuffs when police apprehended her, and they were not sure how she removed the restraints.

Police later found Dudley’s car in Presque Isle hidden on the all-terrain-vehicle trail near the middle school a few miles from where Dudley first stopped Williams, Madore said.

They also found the cabdriver involved and learned that he had picked up Williams near the school.

Montpetit and Assistant District Attorney Carrie Linthicum will review the case and determine all of Williams’ charges, Madore said.

Police did not have information about Williams’ criminal record Tuesday afternoon.

The sheriff expected Williams to make her first appearance in court today.