BELFAST — A Winterport woman has been hit with a slew of charges following a bizarre, slow-speed car chase in downtown Belfast March 28.

Rebecca Hills, 32, of Winterport, first came to the attention of Belfast Police around 7:30 a.m., after a dispatcher with Waldo County Regional Communications Center (WCRCC) noticed a vehicle traveling erratically behind her own. The dispatcher reported the vehicle, a white Volvo, was following closely and swerving from one side of the road to the other.

A second report was made to police by a second dispatcher, who reportedly stepped out of the WCRCC building to find the Volvo traveling through the parking lot at a high rate of speed, before slamming on the brakes and coming to a stop. The driver, later identified as Hills, was heard “yelling and talking to herself,” according to a media report.

The vehicle left the scene before police could respond.

A third complaint was received just before 9 a.m. from a concerned citizen, who reported a white Volvo operating erratically on the Perkins Road. The caller told WCRCC that they had actually observed the vehicle traveling backwards on the road at a high rate of speed.

Officers Michael Boucher and Roy Smith both responded to the call in separate “fully marked” police cruisers. Boucher reportedly observed the vehicle on Church Street, and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The Volvo stopped on the wrong side of the road, with Hills activating the four way flashers directly in front of the Belfast Police Department. When Boucher attempted to approach the vehicle, Hills fled the area, traveling across Main Street and turning onto High Street going north, according to the press release.

“Moments,” after the Volvo fled the scene, Officer Smith joined a notable “low-speed” chase. The Volvo was traveling between 25 mph and 30 mph during the chase; the downtown speed limit is 25 mph.

While engaged in the chase, police observed the vehicle moving from one side of the road to the other, as though the driver was “jerking the wheel back and forth,” according to the release.

Hills lost control of the vehicle on Front Street, just before the intersection with Main Street, only moments later. The vehicle came to a stop facing the opposite direction it had been traveling in. Officers Smith and Boucher reportedly used this opportunity to box the Volvo in with their cruisers in an effort to prevent it from leaving the area.

With lights activated, Boucher moved his cruiser in front of the vehicle while Smith pulled his cruiser in behind the Volvo.

As police began to exit their vehicles to make contact with the driver, the Volvo backed up at a high rate of speed, slamming into Smith’s cruiser. The Volvo then accelerated, striking Boucher’s cruiser, at which point it glanced off the cruiser, traveling over a curb and snowbank before striking a light pole, where it became stuck.

Both officers drew their weapons, ordering the driver out of the vehicle at gunpoint, according to the release. When Hills failed to comply, she was forcibly removed from the vehicle. There was a brief struggle before she was taken into custody.

The driver and Officer Smith were immediately taken to Waldo County General Hospital following the incident, where they were each treated for minor injuries. Both were released later the same day.

Upon her release from the hospital, Hills was transported to Waldo County Jail. She has been charged with eluding an officer, failure to stop for a police officer, driving to endanger, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, operating under the influence, aggravated criminal mischief, and refusing to submit to arrest or detention.

Hills remains in custody at Two Bridges Regional Corrections Facility.

The investigation is ongoing.

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com