FREEPORT — A man is facing a felony OUI charge after leading police from two agencies, and a police dog, on a low-speed pursuit in a truck and on foot.

Linwood Maynard Grover, 32, of Litchfield Road, caught the attention of police at 3:20 p.m. July 16 when he drove a late-model pickup truck onto Lower Flying Point Road and allegedly spun the tires, leaving a cloud of smoke and dust hanging over the pavement, Officer Paul Chenevert said.

Chenevert pursued the truck with flashing lights and a siren, but Grover didn’t stop. Instead, Grover led Chenevert down a series of roads at speeds of 50 mph – about 10 mph over the speed limit, Chenevert said.

The vehicle pursuit ended when Grover pulled into Intervale Road, which is a dead-end street. But the chase continued when Grover fled and ran into the nearby woods.

Chenevert called in a K-9 unit from the Falmouth Police Department while fellow officers from Freeport set up a perimeter watch around the woods. Police also briefly detained Grover’s passenger, a 65-year-old man from Brunswick and owner of the truck.

Grover managed to slip past the perimeter, but he was spotted by Fire Chief Darrel Fourier hiding behind a stone wall in the fire chief’s yard, Chenevert said. Fournier approached Grover, who surrendered.

Grover faces two felony charges – eluding police and operating under the influence – plus a misdemeanor charge of operating with a suspended license. Grover was also on probation for burglary, so additional charges might be filed by the district attorney, Chenevert said.

Grover also  has two prior convictions for OUI, he said.

Chenevert said the arrest might never have happened if Grover hadn’t so conspicuously peeled out on the pavement.

“You would think if you’re under suspension, you’re on probation, you’re intoxicated, you’re not supposed to be driving, that you wouldn’t do that,” Chenevert said.

Ben McCanna can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 125 or bmccanna@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @BenMcCanna.

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