75-Mile Chase in Aroostook County Ends in Arrest of Lewiston Man

A police pursuit of a stolen vehicle that began in Van Buren late Thursday night ended 75 miles south in Houlton with the arrest of a 31-year-old Lewiston man.

The Van Buren Police Department said that around 11:45 p.m., Officer Nate Chisholm attempted to stop a white utility truck on Main Street for speeding. The driver failed to stop and sped off with Officer Chisholm in pursuit. According to police, the truck had been stolen in Van Buren just a short time before.

The chase continued south into Caribou where police deployed spike strips in the road. Police say the suspect kept driving into Presque Isle at speeds above the posted speed limit.

Three more spike strips were deployed by assisting agencies before the truck finally came to a stop in Houlton, police say.

The driver was taken into custody by the Maine State Police and Houlton Police without further incident.

Van Buren Police said in a news release on Friday that 31-year-old Anthony Gallo of Lewiston is being held at the Aroostook County Jail pending arraignment.

Gallo faces multiple charges, including Aggravated Reckless Conduct, Eluding an Officer, Operating Under the Influence, Criminal Speed, Theft of a Motor Vehicle and Operating after Suspension. Additional charges are expected.

Gallo allegedly stole a 2007 Ford Fusion in Auburn earlier and drove it to Van Buren with the apparent intent of crossing the border into Canada. The vehicle's owner tells our newsroom that he had parked his car at a Cumberland Farms gas station in Auburn, and came back outside to find it stolen. Police allegedly found the car abandoned at a Van Buren apartment complex and had it towed to Caribou. The owner of the car made the round trip to Caribou from Auburn to retrieve his vehicle.

Maine State Police Troop F, Caribou Police Department, Presque Isle Police Department and the Houlton Police Department assisted in the operation.