ROCKLAND —  A Bucksport man was sentenced July 20 to nine months in jail for a high-speed chase through Rockport, Camden and Belfast on March 29. 

Paul Davis, 31, was sentenced in Knox County Unified Court to nine months in jail for eluding an officer. He received a concurrent sentence of 90 days in jail for driving to endanger, motor vehicle speeding 30 miles over the speed limit, criminal trespass and failing to notify police of a motor vehicle accident.  

He was also ordered to pay a $575 fine and his license was suspended for 30 days.

According to Camden Police Chief Randy Gagne, the sequence of events started just before 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 29, at the intersection of routes 17 and 90 in Rockport. 

Knox County Regional Communications Center received a call about a male looking into windows at a bridal store there. Rockport Police Officer Dana Smith responded, and Knox RCC relayed that the man had reportedly been seen leaving the rear door of the shop, which had not been open for business.

The witness saw the male get into a car parked on Park Street. That witness attempted to engage the male in conversation to keep him in place until police arrived.

Just as Smith pulled onto the scene, the man fled in his sedan, and in doing so, struck the witness’ own vehicle.

Smith followed the man, identified as Davis, who drove “at an extremely high rate of speed,” said Gagne. It was estimated that his speed reached 100 miles per hour at one point during the chase.

Camden Police Officers joined in the pursuit from various streets in Camden and Rockport. Officers Chris Hansen, Sam Butler, Det. Curt Andrick, and Chief Gagne responded with their police vehicles.

Hansen encountered Davis on Park Street near Rockport Lobster, turned on his lights and siren and attempted to stop him.

But Davis kept moving. He drove down Main Street in Rockport, and across into the denser neighborhoods of Camden and Rockport.

“At that point it was clear the subject was not going to stop for officers and his reckless operation was dangerous to the traveling public,” said Gagne. “Officers were advised to back off and not to engage further.”

Knox RCC transmitted a ‘A Be on the Lookout’ (BOLO) throughout the counties, and a short time later Davis was apprehended by Maine State Police in Belfast. Police smelled intoxicants on his breath, according to the court document.

Smith took Davis into custody and transported him to the Knox County Jail in Rockland. Davis was booked in with the following charges:

1. Eluding an officer (two counts)
2. OUI
3. Driving to endanger (two counts)
4. Criminal speed
5. Criminal Trespass
6. Leaving the scene of a property damage accident
7. Failure to stop at a stop sign
8. Failure to provide evidence of insurance

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com