Opinion ID: 2321747
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Eluding an Officer

Text: [¶ 9] Pursuant to 29-A M.R.S. § 2414(3), a person commits the Class C crime of eluding an officer if that person, after being requested or signaled to stop, attempts to elude a law enforcement officer by operating a motor vehicle at a reckless rate of speed that results in a high-speed chase between the operator's motor vehicle and a law enforcement vehicle using a blue light and siren. [¶ 10] The record establishes, without much basis for dispute, that Milne was pursued, at various times, by two police officers, each in marked cruisers and using blue lights and sirens. The blue lights and siren constituted a signal to Milne to stop or at least to pull over when he was being followed by the police vehicles. Further, the evidence establishes that, during the pursuit, Milne was driving at or in excess of sixty-five miles per hour on rural country roads and forty-five miles per hour in town. [1] Considering the roads in question, the record supports the court's determination that Milne drove at a reckless rate of speed and that the officers were engaged in a high-speed chase of Milne. There also can be no question that Milne was aware that he was being pursued and attempted to elude the officers, as evidenced by his driving quickly through town, leaving the road, driving across the lawn, and then abandoning his vehicle and fleeing into the woods. Accordingly, the State proved each element of the eluding charge beyond a reasonable doubt. Milne's conviction for eluding an officer is affirmed.