Mount Chase man arrested following crash, confrontations in Houlton

5 years ago

HOULTON, Maine — Police arrested a Mount Chase man on multiple charges Monday following a car accident and confrontations in Houlton the day before.

After Sgt. Charles Wampler of the Houlton Police Department responded to a call about a car crash at 5:41 p.m. Sunday on the Ludlow Road, he determined that “the incident was a result of a domestic dispute between family members and that criminal misconduct had taken place,” according to Police Chief Tim DeLuca.

The suspect, Jeremiah Drew, 29 of Mount Chase, then fled the scene, DeLuca reported in a press release issued late Tuesday afternoon.

Shortly afterward, police were notified about a disturbance in the Walmart parking lot in Houlton. DeLuca said witnesses reported that Drew was involved in that incident and that he was “acting irrational and making threats of violence.”

He was gone by the time police arrived, however. The officers, believing Drew was armed with a gun and possibly heading south, then issued a statewide alert to other law enforcement agencies and coordinated efforts with members of the Maine State Police and Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office to locate the suspect, according to DeLuca.

Baxter State Park rangers located Drew early on Dec. 17 in the Millinocket area, the Houlton police chief reported.

Officers arrested Drew and transported him to the Aroostook County Jail where he is being held without bail until he can make an appearance before a district court judge.

Police charged him with domestic violence reckless conduct, aggravated criminal mischief, endangering the welfare of a child, driving to endanger, and leaving the scene of an accident.

The release did not provide any other details about the incidents or about the child endangerment charge.