ROCKLAND — A Washington man who is accused of driving a stolen vehicle that led police on a chase before crashing into a South Thomaston garage, was charged May 14 with attempting to escape from the Knox County Jail.

David Beal, 52, is charged with attempted escape and is being held in jail after his court appearance May 15 on the new charge. Judge Sarah Gilbert set his bail at $2,500 cash.

According to the affidavit filed in court by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Beal was hanging around the fence in the medium security outside recreation area at approximately 4:00 p.m. on May 14. He was warned by corrections officers not to touch the fence.

Beal then climbed the fence and got to the top and tried to move the razor wire. He was ordered down from the fence and complied and was removed from the recreation area.

He denied climbing the fence and said he only touched it, but the top of the chain link fence showed a bent piece that a corrections officer said was from Beal’s shoe stepping on it.

Beal has been held at the Knox County jail since he was arrested on May 9 after the high-speed pursuit that ended when the pickup truck he was driving smashed through a garage in South Thomaston. He was charged with criminal trespassing, refusing to submit to arrest or detention and several outstanding warrants.

He is scheduled to appear in court again on June 27 for a dispositional conference.

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com