Bangor man with revoked license charged in chase

BANGOR – A Bangor man was free on bail Thursday a few hours after he led Bangor police on a chase into Brewer where both his car and the cruiser were damaged.

James York, 47, whose license had been revoked and who carried a stun gun with him, was released from the Penobscot County Jail on $500 cash bail, about 3 a.m. Thursday.

Four hours earlier, he had been involved in an alleged drug and alcohol-fueled flight from police. York caught the attention of police shortly before 11 p.m. Wednesday because his car’s headlights weren’t on. With a cruiser behind him, lights and siren on, York circled the area near the Joshua Chamberlain Bridge and went the wrong way down a one-way street, Bangor police Officer Jason Stuart reported. York sped across the bridge that spans the Penobscot River, exceeding 65 mph in a 25 mph-zone, according to the report.

At the other end, York slid past the stop sign and lost control of the vehicle trying to turn left, Stuart reported. York hit a curb on the other side, severely damaging the car’s passenger-side rear tire.

The damaged tire slowed York but didn’t stop him, according to Stuart who reported that York continued down North Main Street. The car spun around and came face to face with Stuart and his cruiser, who managed to stop about 12 inches from York’s car.

Stuart avoided a collision, only to have York accelerate and hit his cruiser, according to the police report. York turned around and headed down North Main Street in the southbound lane.

Abandoning the car after pulling into the driveway of the Abnaki Girl Scout Council headquarters on North Main Street in Brewer, York fled on foot. Stuart, who was joined by Bangor Officer Shawn Green, followed and closed the gap as they ran through woods and down streets and across a parking lot. Stuart tackled York, who had a 50,000-volt stun gun in his breast pocket.

York was charged with eluding a police officer, operating a motor vehicle after revocation and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants. York told police that earlier he had taken methadone, an antidepressant and drank beer.