DEXTER – A Pittsfield man whose license to drive was suspended chose to make matters much worse early Thursday when he attempted to evade both Newport and Dexter police.

Police tried to stop Jeffrey Frost, 23, on Route 7 in Newport because he was following too closely behind a northbound vehicle with his lights on high beam.

When Frost failed to stop, Newport police Officer Jeremy Flynn alerted Dexter police, who eventually stopped the vehicle.

“It’s great when departments work together,” Newport Police Chief Leonard MacDaid said.

Cpl. Alan Grinnell of the Dexter Police Department, who waited for the vehicle at the Corinna-Dexter line, said he clocked Frost traveling at 97 mph in a 45 mph zone. Grinnell said he activated his blue lights, but Frost increased his speed and led Grinnell on a chase on various side streets.

Frost pulled into a driveway on Prospect Street and was preparing to flee from the vehicle when Grinnell nabbed him, according to the officer.

Dexter police charged Frost with criminal speed, attempting to elude a police officer, operating a motor vehicle after license suspension, driving to endanger, and because he is on probation, violation of conditions of release.

Frost also was charged by Newport police with failure to stop for an officer, criminal speeding, driving to endanger, operating a motor vehicle after license suspension, failure to dim headlights and violation of conditions of release.

Frost was released from prison last month after serving a sentence for violation of probation affiliated with a March 30, 2005, burglary conviction in Waterville, according to the state.

He was being held Thursday at Penobscot County Jail in Bangor.