A 23-year-old Waldoboro man remains behind bars after police say he led them on a brief high-speed chase Friday night with two children in his vehicle.
Zachary A. Genthner was arrested and charged with eluding an officer, aggravated operating after revocation, driving to endanger, refusing to submit to arrest, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
The incident began when Knox County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jeremy Joslyn was parked at the Lil Mart on Route 1 in Thomaston and spotted Genthner at the gas pumps. He saw Genthner get in a vehicle and drive away. The deputy was familiar with Genthner and checked with dispatch to verify that his driver’s license had been revoked, according to the affidavit filed by the sheriff’s office.
The deputy pulled Genthner over on Route 1, and as Joslyn approached the vehicle on foot, Genthner sped off, the officer reported. The chase went up Dexter Street and Genthner’s vehicle was traveling at 67 miles per hour as it made a right turn onto Old County Road, according to the affidavit. The chase continued on Old County Road with Genthner driving into the oncoming lane at one point before he turned onto Thompson Road, West Meadow Road and ended on Mountain Road, Joslyn reported.
Genthner ran from the vehicle and into the woods, refusing to stop for the deputy, according to the affidavit. The officer eventually used a Taser to stop Genthner.
Police found in the vehicle a male passenger who Genthner had picked up and Genthner’s two children – ages 2 years and 6 years, according to the court document.
Police called a relative who picked up the children.
Judge Susan Sparaco set bail Monday afternoon at $7,500 cash for Genthner at his initial appearance in Knox County Unified Court.
