WATERVILLE — A Fairfield man who last week escaped from police after a high speed car chase was tackled Tuesday and handcuffed by detectives inside Jokas’ Discount Beverage on Front Street after he again tried to flee from officers.

Matthew Davidson, 28, of Green Road, Fairfield, was arrested on five warrants just after 3 p.m. Tuesday and summoned on charges of refusing to submit to arrest or detention, violating conditions of release and unlawful possession of drugs, according to police Chief Joseph Massey.

Massey said police found amphetamine salts in pill form in Davidson’s possession when he was arrested. He was wanted on warrants related to an April 6 car chase for operating while his license was suspended or revoked, eluding an officer, reckless conduct, criminal speed — because he was driving 30 mph or faster — and violating conditions of release.

On Tuesday, Detective Sgt. Bill Bonney got a call around 3 p.m. from a person saying Davidson would be at Jokas’ within 10 minutes. Bonney and Detective Duane Cloutier went inside the store and split up with Bonney going down one aisle and Cloutier going down another, according to Massey.

Davidson saw Bonney and took off, running into Cloutier in another aisle, Massey said.

“Eventually, officers had to physically grab him, and there was a short struggle where they fell into a rack of store items and fell on the floor, and eventually they were able to get him under control and handcuffed,” Massey said.

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Davidson was taken to Kennebec County jail in Augusta and is scheduled to appear in Kennebec County Superior Court June 22, Massey said. He was not allowed to post bail because he had violated conditions of release.

Last week on April 6, Davidson led police on a 1 1/2-mile car chase from Kennedy Memorial Drive to Edgewood Street, where he ditched the car and fled on foot, Massey said.

At 1:13 a.m. April 6, police saw Davidson in a car at the Budget Host parking lot on Kennedy Memorial Drive. When Officer Ryan Dinsmore approached him, he drove off, prompting Officer Kyle McDonald to jump out of the way to avoid being hit, according to Massey.

Davidson was operating after suspension and violating conditions of release stemming from an arrest for unlawful possession of oxycodone, Deputy Chief Charles Rumsey said at the time.

Davidson drove out of the hotel parking lot and took a right on Kennedy Memorial Drive. Another officer who happened to be in the area in an unmarked car followed Davidson’s vehicle as it turned on First Rangeway and continued to Edgewood Street, a dead-end street. He then took off running and neither police nor a Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office tracking dog was able to catch him.

Amy Calder — 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @AmyCalder17


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