WEST GARDINER — A couple police say evaded arrest multiple times in recent weeks were arrested Tuesday after police spun out their vehicle to end a chase.

Zebbie Thomas, 33, of Charleston and his wife, Pearle Thomas, 34, of Augusta were arrested by Maine State Police.

The couple, according to a news release from Shannon Moss, public information officer for the state Department of Public Safety, evaded law enforcement officers’ attempts to apprehend them.

Zebbie Thomas had multiple active arrest warrants issued by other law enforcement agencies on charges of felony robbery, aggravated assault and violating conditions of release, Moss said.

A state trooper saw a black Chevrolet Impala around 1:30 p.m. on Townhouse Road. The vehicle was allegedly driven by Pearle Thomas, with Zebbie Thomas as a passenger.

The couple did not stop the car after the trooper attempted to initiate a traffic stop, and a pursuit ensued.

Moss said Trooper Samuel Quintana used the precision immobilization technique, or PIT maneuver, to spin out, crash and stop the vehicle on West Road. Both Thomases were arrested and both were to be treated at a local hospital for minor injuries before being transported to Kennebec County jail.

As of early Wednesday afternoon, bail of $3,000 cash was set for Pearle Thomas, with Zebbie Thomas being held without bail, according to courthouse records.

Quintana was not injured and the cruiser was not damaged, Moss said.

West Gardiner and Gardiner fire departments assisted at the scene.

Both Pearle and Zebbie Thomas were charged with eluding an officer, driving to endanger, and failure to stop.

The pursuit lasted about 4 miles.

Moss said the PIT maneuver is used by police as an attempt to safely end a pursuit by causing a fleeing vehicle to spin and come to a stop.

On April 21 in Augusta, Zebbie Thomas allegedly attacked another man, who was sleeping at the time, with a frying pan. The man was struck several times, left bleeding, going in and out of consciousness and in need of treatment at a hospital, and leaving the frying pan with several dents, according to an affidavit filed in court by David Adams, an Augusta police officer.

In the affidavit, Adams describes Zebbie Thomas as a local drug dealer with a history of strong-arm robberies for money and drugs. The alleged victim in the frying pan beating was also described in the affidavit as someone involved in the drug trade in the area. The victim told police he was sleeping when Zebbie Thomas woke him, demanded to know “where the money was,” threatened to kill him, and struck him in the head with the frying pan eight to 10 times. The affidavit charges Zebbie Thomas with robbery, aggravated assault and violating condition of release for that incident.

Zebbie Thomas was also arrested on two warrants in August 2024, following another police pursuit of him which started in Monmouth and ended in Augusta with a brief standoff with police.

In Monmouth, a local officer sought to pull over a vehicle, driven by Zebbie Thomas, that was possibly involved in a domestic incident earlier the morning of Aug. 21, 2024. Police pursued the vehicle through Winthrop, Monmouth and Wales before calling it off due to safety concerns, police said at the time.

Later that morning state police received a tip that Thomas was at a residence on Sadies Way in Augusta. Police responded and arrested Thomas following a short standoff.