LYMAN, Maine — A man from Saco is set to face several charges after allegedly operating a stolen vehicle, crashing into a state police cruiser, and leading police on a pursuit in York County Tuesday morning.
At about 10:15 a.m., Maine State Police Cpl. Kyle Wells was headed southbound on Route 35 in Lyman when he spotted a Maine Water company truck "operating erratically" by swerving and speeding, according to a news release from the Maine Department of Public Safety.
When Cpl. Wells turned on the police cruiser's emergency lights, the water company truck reportedly sped off, at one point coming to a complete stop and taking off again in the direction of Route 111.
"The pursuit continued westbound on Route 111 in Lyman where the operator came to a complete stop on the side of the road," the release stated. "As Cpl. Wells was exiting his cruiser to speak to the operator, the vehicle accelerated in reverse and struck the State Police cruiser putting it out of commission."
Cpl. Wells was not injured in the crash.
The truck took off toward Alfred where the York County Sheriff's Office intercepted the vehicle. It later crashed at the intersection of Kennebunk Road and South Waterboro Road in Lyman.
The operator of the truck was identified as 39-year-old Ricky Cooper of Saco, and the vehicle was determined to have been stolen, according to the release. Cooper was reportedly suspended and on four sets of bail conditions at the time of the incident.
He was brought to Maine Medical Center for injuries not considered life-threatening, and after his release, will be arrested on charges of eluding an officer, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, violating conditions of release, and theft.
The investigation is ongoing.