Staff Writer
HOULTON — A high speed police chase Saturday night took Sg. Eric Crouse from the outskirts of town on the Bangor Road to the middle of town, and only ended after the suspect was tasered into submission and arrested.
According to the police report, Crouse was sitting at the intersection of the Drew’s Lake Road and the Bangor Road at about 9:30 p.m. when noticed a vehicle headed towards Houlton at an excessive speed. At that time Crouse locked in with his radar and read that the car moving at 64 mph in a 50 mph zone. The vehicle continued at this speed even after passing into a 40 mph zone.
As soon as Crouse turned on his lights and siren the car continued to speed up, eventually reaching 100 mph in the 45 mph zone.
As the speeding vehicle approached Smyrna Street, Officer Crouse turned off his lights and siren, seeing that the driver that was alluding him had no regard to the safety of other drivers.
Reserve Officer Steve Wotton was positioned near the intersection of the Smyrna and Mooers Roads when the speeding car approached his cruiser. As the suspect passed the cruiser Wotton stated that he believed he had been struck by the out of control driver, just before the driver continued on his escape attempt.
As the chase continued Wotton was forced into the guard rail after the suspect swerved in an attempt to hit the cruiser.
Eventually, the driver turned onto Bowdoin Street, braked hard, and exited his vehicle, stumbling as he took off on foot. Crouse quickly followed, chasing the suspect toward the parking lot of Bowdoin Place. At that time Officer Crouse applied his taser in order to end the pursuit.
“Sergeant Crouse did follow policy,” stated Houlton Police Chief Butch Asselin.
The suspect, identified as Mike Brooker, 57 of Houlton, was then taken to Houlton Regional Hospital where the taser probe was removed. Brooker was then cleared from the hospital and taken to the Aroostook County Jail, where he was booked for five felonies, a misdemeanor, and five motor vehicle infractions, which ranged from aggravated assault, a class B felony, to making an improper left turn.
“My best guess is that the district attorneys office will review these complaints and will probably work out the offenses. These things will all be worked out… once he reviews the case. I am just grateful that no one was injured,” reported Asselin yesterday.
