AUGUSTA — A Chelsea man faces a host of charges after he allegedly fled from a deputy trying to stop him on suspicion of speeding on Tuesday.
Todd E. Lunt, 40, spent Tuesday night at the Kennebec County jail after being charged with aggravated trafficking in cocaine, aggravated operating after habitual offender revocation, eluding an officer, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon (an automobile), falsifying physical evidence, driving to endanger and refusing to submit to arrest.
The most serious charge — trafficking in cocaine — carries a maximum prison term of 30 years.
Lunt was held in lieu of $25,000 bail on those charges and was held without bail on a charge of violating probation. On Wednesday, at a hearing at the Capital Judicial Center, Lunt’s bail was raised to $50,000 on the new charges.
Sgt. Jacob Pierce, of the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office, in an affidavit filed in the court, says he was running a speed detail in Chelsea at Beech Street and River Road when his radar unit detected a vehicle traveling 43 mph in a 25-mph zone, and he saw that the driver was not wearing a seat belt.
Pierce said he signaled the driver to stop, but the vehicle took off instead.
Pierce said the vehicle went along Beech Street and turned onto Norway Drive when the driver left the vehicle and first ran at him before fleeing into the woods.
Pierce said he drew his firearm, but the suspect refused commands to stop. Later, Pierce used his Taser on the man, hitting him in the arm and stomach.
A search of the suspect and the vehicle found no weapons or contraband.
The suspect identified himself as Lunt and told the deputy “he didn’t stop because he was scared because he had a suspended license,” according to the affidavit. Also, at one point during the chase, Pierce said two people walking a dog had to “run out of the way of the vehicle” because it was traveling partially on the right shoulder.
Pierce also said the driver appeared to drop something out of the car window, and that one of the pedestrians later called police to say she had retrieved the item from a ditch where they were almost struck.
Deputies collected the plastic bag and the 18 grams of white powder contained in the bag proved positive for cocaine in a field test, Pierce said.
Lunt is on probation for a December 2013 conviction for unlawful possession of scheduled drugs.
Betty Adams — 621-5631
Twitter: @betadams