Maine news, sports, weather | Kennebec Journal, Augusta, Maine

Pair charged after 30-mile police chase

BY CRAIG CROSBY Staff Writer

AUGUSTA -- An Augusta man remained behind bars Friday after police said he rammed a cruiser with a stolen vehicle during a high-speed chase through Waterville and Augusta Thursday evening.

HIGH SPEED ARREST: Police officers detain a man on Gage Street in Augusta following a high speed chase Thursday evening. The chase started on Interstate 95 and proceeded through Sidney before police disabled the vehicle in Augusta and arrested both occupants of the vehicle.

Staff photo by Andy Molloy

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Paul Coyne, 25, made his initial court appearance Friday on charges of eluding an officer and passing a road block. Both are felonies.

Coyne also was charged with operating after suspension, refusing to submit to arrest, driving to endanger, criminal mischief and criminal speeding. He is being held at the Kennebec County jail on $10,000 cash bail or $50,000 worth of property and is next scheduled to appear in court May 12.

Coyne's license has been suspended for the past three years, said Steve McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety. Records indicate Coyne has a number of arrests and convictions for theft, drug possession and probation revocation.

A passenger in the vehicle, James Tucci, 23, of Anson, was arrested on three warrants: two originating in Somerset County; the third from Knox County, Maine State Police Sgt. Aaron Hayden said. Tucci was taken to Somerset County Jail on Thursday night.

Coyne and Tucci complained of pain and were evaluated at MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta before being taken to jail, Hayden said. No one else was injured during the chase that covered miles of heavily driven and populated areas.

Hayden said the 1999 Pontiac Grand Am Coyne was driving was reported stolen in Madison earlier in the week. The vehicle was damaged during the police pursuit, much of which occurred when Coyne continued to drive at least four miles after the vehicle's front driver's-side tire was flattened by a spike strip police deployed on West River Road in Augusta, Hayden said.

The chase started at 7:15 p.m. Thursday when Maine State Police clocked Coyne driving 102 mph on Interstate 95 northbound in Sidney, Hayden said.

Coyne refused to stop, and a check of the vehicle's license plate revealed it had been stolen, Hayden said.

The pursuit lasted for more than 20 minutes and nearly 30 miles as Coyne led police onto Kennedy Memorial Drive and West River Road in Waterville, through Sidney, and toward Route 3 in Augusta at speeds averaging 80 mph, Hayden said.

At one point, Coyne allegedly struck a police cruiser and raced down Augusta's heavily traveled Bangor Street at more than 50 mph with a flattened tire.

"A cruiser was intentionally struck in Augusta," Hayden said.

The chase then continued through some of Augusta's most congested traffic arteries -- including Cony Circle -- and over Memorial Bridge.

It ended when the tire shredded off its wheel on Gage Street in Augusta.

Police in Augusta and Waterville, as well as the Kennebec County Sheriff's Department, joined Maine State Police in the pursuit, Hayden said.

"Any pursuit is intense," he said. "Our main concerns are the safety of the public."

Coyne could face additional charges.

"I would suspect there would be further charges once the stolen vehicle issue is fully investigated by Madison police," Hayden said.

Craig Crosby--623-3811, ext. 433

ccrosby@centralmaine.com