MARS HILL, Maine — A Mars Hill man was arrested Tuesday on several charges after he allegedly led Maine State Police and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents on a high-speed chase from Bridgewater to Mars Hill.
Francis Murray Jr., 43, was charged with operating under the influence, operating after revocation of his driver’s license, violation of a protection order, and assault, Maine State Police Lt. Brian Harris said Tuesday in a news release.
According to Harris, the series of incidents that led to Murray’s arrest began on Tuesday when state police Trooper Eric Sucy was called to look into a report of an assault in Bridgewater.
Before Sucy arrived, however, Murray left the residence in a car, Harris said. Moments later, the trooper came across Murray’s vehicle and tried to stop him to speak to him about the assault.
Murray refused to stop, leading Sucy on a chase on Route 1 from Bridgewater to Mars Hill with speeds reaching 80 mph, Harris said.
The chase ended after several miles as Murray reached Mars Hill, where police had set up a deflating device and disabled Murray’s vehicle. Murray was arrested after a brief struggle and taken to Aroostook County Jail, Harris said.
The incident remains under investigation. Sucy was assisted by Trooper Carman Lilley and U.S. border patrol agents.