Maine Man Charged After a Police Pursuit in a Stolen SUV in Surry

A Deer Isle man is facing multiple charges after allegedly leading police on a chase in a stolen vehicle before crashing it.

The Driver Had a Suspended License, Which Added to His List of Charges

Jon McDowell, 27, of Deer Isle is charged with theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, driving to endanger, operating after suspension, and failing to report an accident.

A Deer Isle Resident Reported Their SUV Missing Monday Afternoon

The incident began at approximately 3:17 Monday afternoon when the Hancock Regional Communications Center received a call from a Deer Isle resident reporting their red Chevrolet Equinox had been stolen. Two Hancock County Sheriff’s Office members tried to get the vehicle to pull over on Surry Road, but the driver, who officials say was a white male in a black hooded sweatshirt, refused to stop. Due to the danger to the public posed by the pursuit, officials broke off the chase.

Deputies found the Crashed Car and the Suspect Was Not Far Away

Shortly after losing sight of the vehicle, deputies learned of a crash involving a vehicle matching the description of the missing SUV. As Hancock County officials investigated the crash site, they found the SUV had overturned off the roadway. No one was inside, but a man fitting the suspect’s description emerged from nearby woods. He disappeared before deputies could contact him, but they soon learned he had entered a nearby home. He was transported to the Hancock County Jail without incident.

We’ll update this story as more details become available.