LINCOLN, Maine — Shortly before 11:30 a.m. Thursday, officers from several law enforcement agencies received a report of a vehicle that had almost struck a Maine game warden, Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss said in a news release Friday.
The game warden was reportedly "dealing with a moose complaint" in Lincoln when he observed a vehicle fleeing the scene of a suspected trespass and theft at the former Lincoln pulp and paper mill in the area of Katadin Avenue, according to Moss.
Shortly after, a trooper located the vehicle on Route 2 in the town of Winn, and a high-speed pursuit followed, the release stated.
"Troopers with the Northern Field Troop, Troop F, and Aroostook County Sheriff’s Deputies deployed tire deflation matts which slowed the vehicle down," the release said. "A Trooper then utilized the precision immobilization technique (PITT) to terminate the chase in Haynesville."
Moss said the pursuit, which totaled 55.2 miles long, ended shortly before 1 p.m. Three people were in the vehicle, and the two passengers were taken into custody and later posted bail at the Lincoln Police Department.
The two passengers were identified as 29-year-old Zachary Hitchcock, of Windham, and 34-year-old Shane Godfrin, of Orient.
Hitchcock was charged with theft and criminal trespassing and Godfrin was charged with theft, criminal trespassing, and violation of conditions of release, according to the release.
The driver, identified as 32-year-old Michael Godfrin, of Orient, reportedly fled the scene but was quickly located and taken into custody without incident. Moss said he was arrested on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear and, in connection with this incident, was charged with eluding, passing a roadblock and driving to endanger, operating after suspension, and criminal speeding.
Michael Godfrin is also facing additional charges from the Maine Warden Service and Lincoln Police Department. He was taken to the Aroostook County Jail.