MONTVILLE — A Norridgewock man was arrested after allegedly leading Belfast Police on a 17 mile high speed chase from Belfast to Montville.

Tommy S. Hufford, 41, was arrested after finally pulling over in Montville. He has been charged with operating under the influence, eluding an officer, criminal speed (exceeding the speed limit by 30 mph or more), reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, refusing to submit to arrest or detention, and criminal threatening.

Officer’s Lewis Dyer and Michael Boucher initially came into contact with Hufford around 11 p.m., July 20, after he reported his car stolen from the downtown area, according to Chief Michael McFadden.

After a brief search of the area, officers were able to locate Hufford’s vehicle in roughly the same area he thought he had parked it.

Hufford reportedly became confrontational with Dyer and Boucher after his car was located, insisting someone must have moved the vehicle. McFadden said that is unlikely given that Hufford had the keys to the truck during the entire encounter with police, and the vehicle had no damage to suggest it had been broken into.

Both officers noticed that Hufford appeared intoxicated, and warned him not to drive the vehicle. Both Dyer and Boucher, who was on a bicycle, stayed in the area to ensure that Hufford didn’t drive, and to quickly intercept him if he did.

Eventually police witnessed Hufford going back to the truck and getting in. Officer Dyer attempted to stop the vehicle, but Hufford took off at a high rate of speed, squealing tires past Dyer’s cruiser.

Hufford initially traveled down Front Street toward Armistice Bridge, before turning around in a gravel pit and reversing direction. The truck sped down Front Street before turning onto Main Street, which Hufford followed as it turned to Route 3, police said.

McFadden said the incident was “extremely dangerous” for a number of reasons, including the fact that Hufford turned off his headlights just beyond the Belfast Curling Club.  

Speeds during the pursuit reached up to 90 mph hour, with Hufford’s truck frequently weaving into the opposite lane. McFadden said Hufford drove past roughly six to 12 cars during the pursuit, with some of the vehicles pulling into the breakdown lane to avoid collision.

Hufford eventually pulled over in Montville and was taken into custody following a brief struggle.

McFadden, who was notified as soon as the chase began, said police use a number of factors when determining whether to pursue a fleeing car or not.

Though Belfast officers are trained in chase maneuvers, McFadden said it isn’t often they put them to use.

“For some reason [high speed pursuits] don’t happen frequently [in Belfast], which is a good thing since they’re extremely dangerous,” he said.

McFadden said this particular chase was pursued because of the danger Hufford posed to the public.

“He was so intoxicated and operating so recklessly that the only way to alert the public was with blue lights, since his headlights were out,” he said.

After being transported to Waldo County Jail, Hufford made threats toward an officer, resulting in a charge of criminal threatening. He is currently still in custody.

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com