A Maine man accused of crashing his pickup truck into a family of four and days later crashing into a police cruiser is being held without bail.
Carl Hartley, 57, of Mattawamkeag is charged with one felony count each of criminal operating under the influence and aggravated criminal mischief, as well as one misdemeanor count each of refusing to stop for a law enforcement officer, driving to endanger and violation of his conditions of release. He had his first appearance Monday in Penobscot County Superior Court.
Drivers called 911 to report a pickup swerving all over the road, including into and out of a ditch, around 6:50 p.m. on Sunday. A Lincoln police officer responded and tried to pull the driver over, according to a probable cause affidavit. Eventually the driver turned around and crashed into the police cruiser.
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. In both crashes Hartley is accused of driving erratically under the influence of suspected drugs.
In the first case, he is charged with one felony count each of aggravated criminal operating under the influence, driving to endanger, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of methamphetamine.
Hartley was granted a $10,000 cash bail or a $30,000 surety bail on July 20. He used real estate to post the $30,000 bail on July 22.
On Monday, Judge Harris Mattson revoked Hartley’s bail for the first crash. Hartley was granted a $10,000 cash bail for the second crash, but since his bail was revoked, he will remain in the Penobscot County Jail even if he can afford to post the second bail.
After both crashes, Hartley blew a 0.0 for a breath alcohol test. His blood was drawn both times to test for other intoxicants.
Hartley quit drinking six years ago and hasn’t used drugs in several years, his defense attorney Deven Soondar said. Hartley doesn’t remember anything about the crashes and plans to go to a neurologist, Soondar said.
“Both of these incidents are clearly medical incidents,” Soondar said.
Methamphetamine was found in his vehicle after the first crash, which Hartley told police wasn’t his, according to court records.
In the first crash, a 24-year-old woman was found beneath his vehicle and 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.
On Sunday, Hartley didn’t pull over for more than a mile and a half, despite the officer using lights, sirens and the speaker system telling him to do so, the affidavit said. The officer saw Hartley weaving across the yellow line.
Vehicles in the oncoming lane pulled over when they heard the sirens, and the officer said she believed Hartley would have hit multiple cars head on if they were driving as normal, according to the affidavit.
Hartley drove down Lee Road, onto Main Street and cut across parking lots before turning onto Fleming Street. His path was blocked by a propane truck and the officer said Hartley pulled a U-turn and crashed into the driver’s side of the officer’s cruiser.
The officer was able to crawl over the center console and exit the passenger door before placing Hartley under arrest.
Hartley has a “lengthy” criminal history, Penobscot County Assistant District Attorney Alice Clifford said last week. She outlined charges starting in 1987 with a burglary conviction, as well as domestic violence and felony assault. There were at least 30 cases in Hartley’s criminal history.
Hartley is scheduled to appear in court again on Sept. 10.