Brunswick police arrest three after car chase, drug activity report

BRUNSWICK — Brunswick Police responded to a report of illegal drug activity at Cumberland Farms on Pleasant Street on Aug. 7, leading to a car chase and the arrest of three individuals.

At approximately 4:22 p.m., officers attempted a traffic stop on a red VW sedan suspected of involvement in the drug activity and driven by a male who appeared to be under the influence.

The vehicle, with five occupants and tentatively identified driver Nathan Taylor, sped away as the driver was being screened for operating under the influence.

The chase was called off due to safety concerns from the high volume of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

Assistance from neighboring Topsham Police, Freeport Police, and the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department was enlisted to locate the sedan.

Later, residents reported the suspect vehicle speeding through the Tarratine Dr. and Hemlock Rd. neighborhood.

The abandoned car was found behind 29 Tarratine Dr., having crashed through a fence into trees.

Witnesses observed several individuals fleeing from the car.

A two-hour K9 search led to the arrest of Jessica Simmons, 29, of Pittston, and Richard Potter, 27, of Whitefield, near the Bowdoin College ball fields on Harpswell Rd.

Nathon Taylor, 45, of Augusta, the VW’s driver, was apprehended by a Freeport Police Detective after attempting to leave the scene in another vehicle on Bath Rd.

Sherry Gilley, 38, of Harpswell was charged with attempting to help Taylor avoid arrest.

Taylor faces charges including eluding an officer and driving to endanger.

Simmons and Potter were charged with multiple offenses, including possession of drug paraphernalia.

All three were detained at Cumberland County Jail, with a court date set for Oct. 2.

Gilley was charged with violation of conditional release and hindering apprehension.

She was summonsed and released.