Bar Harbor man held after 90-mph chase

ELLSWORTH – A Bar Harbor man who reportedly stole a van in Bangor led police in Ellsworth on a brief high-speed chase Tuesday night before he ran the car off the road.

Police said they arrested Christopher Hilton, 26, around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday after he lost control on the Red Bridge Road and drove the stolen vehicle into a ditch.

Hilton is suspected of stealing a 1998 Plymouth van from outside a pizza parlor in Bangor. The vehicle’s owner had left the van unlocked with the keys in the ignition while she was in the restaurant. Ellsworth police were notified by authorities in Holden that the van was headed south on U.S. Route 1A toward Ellsworth. An officer saw the vehicle drive by and then pulled out to follow it.

Once the blue lights were activated, Hilton sped up, reaching speeds near 90 mph, Ellsworth police Lt. Harold Page said Wednesday.

Hilton turned off Route 1A onto Red Bridge Road, which turns into a dirt road, and lost control of the van. He wasn’t injured and the vehicle had only minor damage, Page said.

Hilton was charged with eluding an officer, driving to endanger, operating under the influence, and operating after suspension. Hilton was still at the Hancock County Jail Wednesday afternoon.

Hilton already has spent time in jail on forgery and theft charges and also has previous OUI convictions, police said.