05-14-2020

On Wednesday evening, Rumford Police arrested Austin C. Kimball, 22 of West Paris after a 14-mile chase that ended on the East Shore Road at Worthley Pond in Peru after Kimball’s vehicle ran out of gas. Kimball was charged with felony and misdemeanor crimes including reckless conduct with a motor vehicle, driving to endanger, operating after suspension, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, eluding a police officer, and violation of conditions of release.

The incident started when a Rumford resident called to report that while out jogging, a vehicle approached the jobber and the operator (Kimball) made inappropriate sexual remarks and tried to entice the female into his vehicle. When the jogger refused and took off running from the area, the operator (Kimball) sped off, and then turned back headed towards the female and swerved towards her. The jogger was not injured.

A short time later, police located Kimball in the Rumford Information Booth parking lot and when they attempted to stop and question him, Kimball took off in his vehicle and attempted to crash head-on into an occupied Rumford Police cruiser. Rumford Police pursued Kimball and eventually took him into custody after his vehicle ran out of gas on the East Shore Road at Worthley Pond in Peru.

Police have had additional recent incidents where Kimball has endangered the public. In March, Kimball was arrested in West Paris after allegedly being intoxicated, aggressive and threatening violence upon a store clerk. He was later released by the Court on bail with conditions of no use or possession of alcohol. Last month, Kimball was arrested again after he was involved in an injury rollover crash in West Paris and determined to being under the influence. He was eventually released by the Court once again on bail.

Because of the seriousness of these incidents, the high risk to the safety of the residents in the region, and Kimball’s repeated unwillingness or inability to comply with bail conditions, Rumford Police Chief Tony Milligan submitted a written recommendation to the District Attorney’s Office urging the prosecutor and Court to consider $100,000 cash bail for Kimball citing him as a public safety threat.

Kimball was arraigned by the Court earlier today and bail was set however at $2,500 cash or $250 with a Maine Pre-Trial Services contract for supervision while awaiting trial. As of the time of this media release, Kimball has not yet posted bail.

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