The Mattawamkeag man accused of hitting a family of four with his vehicle during Lincoln’s annual Loonfest earlier this month has been arrested again. This time after allegedly leading police on a chase and crashing into an officer’s cruiser.
Carl Hartley, 57, has been charged with criminal operating under the influence, aggravated criminal mischief, refusing to stop for a law enforcement officer, driving to endanger and violation of his conditions of release, according to Lincoln Police Chief Lee Miller.
Hartley was allegedly driving a pickup truck erratically on Lee Road about 6:50 p.m. Sunday, weaving in and out of both lanes of traffic, nearly hitting other vehicles and swerving into the ditch.
When officers tried to stop him on Lee Road, Hartley allegedly kept going, leading police on a chase into downtown Lincoln, where he tried to evade them on Main Street and then a business parking lot.
In that parking lot, Hartley allegedly crashed into the driver’s side of a Lincoln police cruiser, briefly trapping the officer, who got out on the passenger’s side and placed Hartley under arrest, Miller said Monday morning.
Police believe Hartley was under the influence of drugs, according to Miller.
Hartley’s arrest comes just over a week after he allegedly hit a family of four walking on the sidewalk near the intersection of Main Street and West Broadway during Lincoln’s annual Loonfest.
The 24-year-old woman, who was found beneath his vehicle, was airlifted to Northern Light Health’s Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. The 29-year-old man, 5-year-old child and 3-month-old infant were treated at the scene.
Witnesses told police that Hartley looked asleep behind the wheel.
In that case, he was charged with aggravated criminal operating under the influence, driving to endanger, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of methamphetamine.
Hartley remained at the Penobscot County Jail in Bangor on Monday morning, according to the jail’s website.