U-Haul Truck Driver Leads Police on Maine, New Hampshire, Pursuit (VIDEO)

🔴 The driver of a U-Haul truck and passengers were suspects in a Sanford theft

🔴 The U-Haul truck stoped in North Berwick and continued south into Rochester

🔴 Even with two flattened tires, the truck headed back into Maine, where a third flat tire stopped it

A two-state police pursuit of a U-Haul truck ended with the apprehension of the driver in the Maine woods on Saturday morning, thanks to K9 Kaiser.

The pursuit began with the truck believed to have two suspects in a theft in Sanford. The vehicle fled North Berwick Police headquarters, and failed to stop for a second traffic stop. Moments earlier, the truck did stop, and the original driver got out.  The passenger slid over into the driver's seat and took off, nearly hitting the first driver.

• North Berwick, Berwick, and Wells police pursued the truck over the border into Rochester, where New Hampshire State Police spotted it on Lowell Street.
• The trooper followed it onto northbound Route 16 at Exit 13 (Route 202), where it continued into Milton, speeding erratically.
• When the truck reached Exit 17 (Farmington Road), a Milton police officer used tire deflation devices to flatten two tires.
• It was not enough to stop the truck, as it got off at Exit 17 and continued north onto Route 125. The truck eventually wound up in Lebanon, Maine, where police deflated a third tire at the intersection of Route 202 and River Road.
• The truck crossed the border back into Rochester, and pulled over into a business on Front Street. It went onto a dirt road behind the building, where it got stuck in the mud.
• The driver exited the truck and refused orders to stop running and instead continued into the woods until K9 Kaiser was able to bring down the driver.

The driver was identified as Michael D. Bennett, 30, of Sanbornville, who was the subject an outstanding no-bail warrant issued by Strafford County Superior Court for absconding from drug court supervision. He was also on probation for drug possession, and his license was suspended because of being certified as a habitual offender.

Bennett was also charged with reckless conduct – Class B felony, operating after certification as a habitual offender – Class B felony, operating after revocation – Class A misdemeanor, disobeying an officer – Class A misdemeanor, driving without giving proof – Class A misdemeanor, and resisting arrest – Class A misdemeanor (x2). Additional charges will likely be filed from both Maine and New Hampshire.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH