Maine Man Eludes Police, Crashes Rental Car

(Standish, Me.) - Maine State Police say a Portland man is facing charges after a chase Tuesday morning ended with a crash on Route 35 in Standish.

The chase began when Freeport Police recognized 33 year old Raymond Ireland of Portland behind the wheel.  Ireland was wanted on a number of charges.

Freeport Police  broke off the chase  and  State Troopers later spotted the vehicle on the Falmouth Spur of the turnpike, but also broke off the pursuit because of Ireland’s erratic driving.

The car was later tracked down in the Gorham-Standish area and Troopers, assisted by Cumberland County Deputies, located the car and chased it along Route 35.   The chase ended when deputies put out spike mats that deflated the fleeing car’s tires.   The car, which was overdue from Enterprise Car Rental, overturned near Woodrow Drive and came to rest on its wheels.

Ireland is now being treated at Maine Medical Center in Portland for non-life threatening injuries. Charges from the chase will be lodged against Ireland, once he is released from the hospital.