A Pittsfield man was arrested early Sunday after he led sheriff’s deputies on a late-night chase that lasted 23 minutes and covered 20 miles around several Somerset County towns, and caused damage to two cruisers, according to the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office.

Brett Johnson, 43, was charged with several Class C felony-level charges: eluding an officer, assault with a dangerous weapon, unlawful furnishing of scheduled drugs, escape and passing a police roadblock.

The chase began around 11:55 p.m. Saturday when Somerset County sheriff’s Deputy Allen Jones attempted to stop Johnson, who was driving a 2009 Ford Focus on Route 23 in Hartland, for speeding, Chief Deputy Mike Mitchell said Sunday. In Hartland, that section of Route 23 is known as the Canaan Road.

Johnson did not stop, driving south toward Canaan and turning left on to Morrill Pond Road, Mitchell said. Johnson’s vehicle then came to an abrupt stop and a passenger, who was not charged in connection with the incident, got out of the car, Mitchell continued.

The chase then proceeded north on Beans Corner Road toward Hartland, and then on to Route 152 toward St. Albans, Mitchell said.

From St. Albans village, Johnson continued north to Todds Corner Road toward Ripley, and then turned around near Grant Road to head back south toward St. Albans, Mitchell said. From that point, Jones continued to pursue Johnson back through St. Albans and on to Canaan Road, or Route 23, in Hartland.

Deputy Ashley Smith set up spike mats near the intersection of Morrill Pond Road and Canaan Road, Mitchell said.

The spikes slowly deflated all four of the tires on Johnson’s car, and he stopped just south near the intersection with Lancaster Road, Mitchell said.

Jones, the deputy chasing Johnson, got out of his cruiser to order Johnson to get out of his car, when Johnson put his vehicle in reverse and rammed into the cruiser, Mitchell said.

Smith caught up from where she placed the spike mats and pulled in front of Johnson’s car to try to box him in, Mitchell said.

Johnson then drove into a ditch to get around Smith’s cruiser, Mitchell said, leading to further attempts to box him in.

Smith and Jones were eventually able to do so and took Johnson out of the car to arrest him.

Skowhegan police officers helped the deputies escort Johnson to the Madison jail, “in case he started to act uncooperative again,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell said the chase resulted in minor front-end damage to the two cruisers, including a new Chevrolet Tahoe; both vehicles were equipped with brush guards — largely used to protect against collisions with animals like deer — that limited more severe damage.

“Considering what happened, we were lucky we didn’t have more extensive damage,” he said.

Johnson was also charged with Class D and E, misdemeanor-level charges of refusing to submit to arrest or detention, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, speeding 30 mph over the limit, driving to endanger and violation of condition of release.

Johnson was being held as of Monday morning at the Somerset County Jail in Madison, with no bail allowed, records show, as he was also arrested on a probation hold. He was expected to appear in court in Skowhegan Monday afternoon, when a judge would be expected to consider bail.

In total, the chase lasted about 23 minutes, according to Mitchell, who reviewed video footage from the deputies involved. Deputies estimated it covered more than 20 miles.

Few other cars were on the road at the time, as it was late at night in a rural area, Mitchell said.

The late-night chase was not the first time Somerset County deputies have pursued Johnson. On June 24, 2022, he led deputies on another chase, Mitchell said. That incident began with a reported family fight allegedly involving a pepper ball gun.

For that chase, Johnson was convicted in May 2023 of eluding an officer, according to the sheriff’s office.

He has an active driver’s license, Mitchell said.