Maine Man Hit a Police Car in a Stolen Water Company Vehicle

A Saco man led police on a pursuit in a stolen utility truck after hitting a cruiser.

Where Did This Happen?

The incident began at around 10:15 Tuesday morning when Corporal Kyle Wells of the Maine State Police noticed a Maine Water Company truck operating erratically on Route 35 in Lyman. Wells observed the truck swerving in its lane and exceeding the speed limit. When Wells activated his emergency lights, the truck took off at a high rate of speed.

At one point, the utility truck stopped completely before taking off again, headed toward route 111. In Lyman, the vehicle came to a complete stop again, this time on the side of the road. As Corporal Wells was getting out of his cruiser, intending to speak to the driver, the vehicle suddenly accelerated in reverse and struck the State Police vehicle. The impact disabled the cruiser but Corporal Wells was not hurt.

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How Did the Chase End?

The utility truck then took off before being intercepted by a member of the York County Sheriff's Office, who took off after the vehicle. The pursuit ended when the truck crashed at the intersection of Kennebunk Pond and South Waterboro Road in Lyman. During an investigation into the driver and vehicle, officials determined the utility truck had been stolen.

What Charges Does the Driver Face?

The driver has been identified as:

• Ricky Cooper, 39, of Saco

Officials say his license was suspended and he was on four sets of bail conditions. Cooper was transported to Maine Medical Center for non-life-threatening injuries. Upon release from medical care, he will face multiple charges, including:

• Eluding an officer
• Reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon
• Violating conditions of release
• Theft

This incident remains under investigation.