BRUNSWICK, Maine — A 19-year-old Brunswick man faces a slew of misdemeanor charges after allegedly stealing a pickup truck from Papa John’s restaurant Tuesday night and leading police on a high-speed chase through Brunswick and Topsham before being arrested at gunpoint.
Tyler Ciciotte was charged with violation of condition of release, driving to endanger, operating a motor vehicle more than 30 mph over the speed limit, reckless conduct, failure to stop for an officer and theft by unauthorized use of property, Brunswick Police Cmdr. Marc Hagan said.
Police were called at 11:56 p.m. Tuesday to Papa John’s at 190 Bath Road after a man reported that his F-250 2013 Ford pickup truck was stolen when he left it running to go into the restaurant.
Police saw the vehicle on Bath Road near Jordan Avenue and attempted to stop it, but the operator continued down Bath Road, “and a chase ensued from there,” reaching 80 mph along Bath Road, Hagan said.
The chase continued to Maine Street, over the Androscoggin River to Main Street in Topsham, and up Elm Street. The truck then stopped on Foreside Road, at which point the driver fled on foot, Hagan said.
Police approached the truck with guns drawn, and two passengers, a 29-year-old man and 36-year-old man, both from Brunswick, jumped out of the car and surrendered. They were not charged, although Hagan said the investigation continues.
Ciciotte was allegedly found in a doorway a couple of houses away, Hagan said. He was arrested without incident and taken to Cumberland County Jail, where he remains on $1,060 bail. He is scheduled to appear in West Bath District Court on Dec. 22.