Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Stolen Vehicle in Waterville Leads to Police Chase and Arrest

WATERVILLE, Maine (WMTW/WABI) – A Norridgewock man, Lawrence Knowles, found himself behind bars and facing multiple charges after allegedly stealing a vehicle in Waterville early Sunday morning. The incident escalated into a police chase before the suspect was finally apprehended.

The Waterville Police Department responded to a report of a stolen red 2011 Chevrolet Impala from the Cumberland Farms on College Avenue at approximately 5 a.m. Upon arrival, the police discovered that both the suspect and the stolen vehicle were nowhere to be found. However, thanks to the store’s security cameras, they were able to identify the suspect as 57-year-old Lawrence Knowles.

Later in the day, around 1 p.m., authorities received reports of a male individual pulled over on Interstate 95 near mile marker 117 southbound in Sidney, who appeared to be passed out inside a car. Responding officers confirmed that the vehicle matched the description of the stolen Chevrolet Impala.

As the police approached, Knowles fled the scene, initiating a high-speed chase on I-95. In an effort to apprehend the suspect, members of the Warden Service, Waterville Police, Fairfield Police, and Clinton Police collaborated to set up a roadblock. Eventually, Knowles was forced to exit I-95 in Fairfield, where the police successfully stopped him on Howe Road.

Without any resistance, Knowles was taken into custody and transported to Kennebec County Jail. Nonetheless, during the pursuit, Knowles sideswiped another vehicle, causing it to crash into a barrier. Fortunately, the driver of the crashed vehicle only sustained minor injuries.

Knowles now faces several charges, including aggravated reckless conduct, eluding an officer, passing a roadblock, falsifying physical evidence, leaving the scene of a property damage crash, driving to endanger, and operating after suspension. The incident and subsequent crash remain under investigation.

Maine State Police Statement:

Maine State Police released the following statement regarding the incident:

“On Sunday, December 17, 2023, at approximately 5:00 am, the Waterville Police Department received a report of a vehicle theft, a red 2011 Chevrolet Impala, at the Cumberland Farms on College Ave in Waterville. The suspect, 57-year-old Lawrence Knowles of Norridgewock, was identified through video footage. However, the stolen vehicle was not immediately recovered. Later in the day, at around 1:00 pm, troopers received reports of a male individual pulled over on Interstate 95 near mile marker 117 southbound in Sidney. Concerned motorists had called 911 to report a male passed out in the front seat. Upon investigation, troopers confirmed that the vehicle matched the description of the stolen vehicle. As the troopers approached, the driver fled southbound, initiating a pursuit. Troopers were able to confirm that it was indeed the stolen vehicle. Near mile 114, a trooper attempted a P.I.T Maneuver (Precision Immobilization Technique) to stop the fleeing vehicle. However, the maneuver did not immobilize the vehicle, and it continued to flee northbound in the southbound lane. To ensure public safety, the troopers refrained from pursuing the vehicle the wrong way and instead positioned themselves to intercept the suspect traveling northbound. To assist in apprehending the suspect, members of the Warden Service, Waterville Police, Fairfield Police, and Clinton Police collaborated by slowing down southbound traffic and establishing a roadblock. The suspect exited the Interstate in Fairfield and was soon located on Howe Road. Lawrence Knowles was taken into custody without incident and transported to Kennebec County Jail. Knowles faces charges including Aggravated Reckless Conduct (Class B), Eluding an Officer (Class C), Passing a Roadblock (Class C), Falsifying Physical Evidence (Class D), Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Crash (Class E), Driving to Endanger (Class E), and Operating After Suspension (Civil). Two property damage crashes occurred during the incident. One crash resulted from debris flying off the suspect’s vehicle, causing damage to another vehicle’s paint. The second crash occurred when the suspect’s vehicle sideswiped another car, leading to the other vehicle crashing into a barrier. The driver of the vehicle that crashed into the barrier sustained minor injuries.”

The local authorities continue to investigate the stolen vehicle incident and the resulting crash. Additional details will be provided as the investigation progresses.

It is crucial to note that the use of British English has been employed in this article to cater to the target audience.

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