On Aug. 2, at about 2:20 p.m., the Boothbay Harbor Police Department received a report of a vehicle taken without its owner’s permission. The owner’s son, Hunter Andrews, 19, of Boothbay Harbor, had allegedly taken the vehicle. He had taken the vehicle and made suicidal threats with a knife. Boothbay Harbor Police issued an “attempt to locate” alert on Andrews and the vehicle. Shortly afterward,  sheriff’s deputies observed the vehicle northbound on Route 27 in Boothbay. When they attempted to stop Andrews, he allegedly accelerated and refused to stop.

Due to the nature of the information, deputies continued the pursuit. It continued up through Edgecomb and across the Wiscasset bridge. During this pursuit, the vehicle being pursued, struck several cars stuck in traffic and broke their mirrors. Several units attempted to deploy spike strip tire deflation units, however, none could be positioned in time. Due to the collisions, speed, and no further law enforcement units near enough to deploy spike strips, the pursuit was terminated.

Speeds during the pursuit reached 100 mph. The area was searched and the vehicle was discovered off the road in the parking area of the Montsweag Flea Market. It had failed to negotiate the turn onto Mountain Road and had gone airborne off the road and crashed into the parking area; which was unoccupied as the market was closed. Andrews fled on foot into the woods.

Deputies from Lincoln and Sagadahoc counties searched the area assisted by a Topsham Police Department K-9 team and Wiscasset and Boothbay Harbor police departments. During the search, Andrews was found and taken into custody. He was charged with ​Violation of Conditions of Release Class C; Operating Vehicle without a License Class E; three charges of Criminal Mischief Class D; Eluding an Officer Class C; Operating Under the Influence Class D; Reckless Conduct with a Dangerous Weapon Class C;  and Theft – Unauthorized use of Motor Vehicle Class D.

Andrews was medically cleared at Mid Coast Hospital and then booked into Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset. He is being held without bail pending review by the courts. He was free on bail for a Class A Robbery charge in connection with a home invasion in Nobleboro on April 16. No one was injured during Thursday’s pursuit.

Any witnesses are asked to contact Deputy Chase Bosse or Lieutenant Brendan Kane at the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office,  882-6576 or email bkane@lincolnso.me