A Casco man was arrested on Valentine’s Day after he allegedly fled from police, traveling at over 100 mph while transporting over 900 grams of cocaine and 280 grams of fentanyl.
[RELATED: Bangor Man Flees Police at High Speeds Before Mile-Long Foot Chase Through the Woods…]
The Kennebec County Sheriff’s Department first announced the arrest on Monday, though it took place over a week ago.
At approximately 1:00 a.m., Kennebec Deputy Elijah Curtis witnessed a “disturbance” on Water Street in Hallowell and attempted to stop a 2006 BMW.
Instead of stopping, the driver allegedly sped away, turned onto Central Street, and fled at 105 mph.
The vehicle reportedly continued at over 100 mph near Shady Lane when the driver left the road and crashed into a stump.
While Curtis approached, the driver of the vehicle reportedly fled on foot, despite his high-speed crash.
Curtis requested the assistance of a K9 unit from the Maine State Police.
Shortly thereafter, law enforcement located the suspect, Ryan Benoit, 35, of Casco, in a vehicle near Jamie Pond and took him into custody.
Later the same day, law enforcement reportedly located a backpack near the crash site that matched a bag found in the BMW.
The bag allegedly contained 670 grams of cocaine, 120 grams of cocaine base, and 282 grams of fentanyl.
Benoit was charged with eluding an officer, driving to endanger, motor vehicle speeding (30+ mph over the speed limit), operating a vehicle without a license, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident, aggravated trafficking of cocaine, aggravated trafficking of fentanyl, and aggravated trafficking of cocaine base.
He was issued a $60,000 bail, with conditions preventing him from possessing drugs or alcohol, and allowing him to be tested and searched upon reasonable suspicion.
The conditions also prevent him from owning or using a firearm or other dangerous weapons and allow him to be searched at any time without probable cause.
He must also refrain from operating a motor vehicle and must abide by a curfew from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Benoit was previously arrested in 2016 on drug and firearm charges.
