Man Leads Police on 100 MPH Chase Through Hampton

Story by Robert Cook


A Maine man led police on a high-speed chase through Hampton, Portsmouth and into Maine at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour before he was arrested early Sunday morning.

Jamie West, 36, of Westbrook, Maine, was ultimately arrested by Kennebunkport, Maine, police near the center of town after he had abandoned the first car he drove when the high-speed chase began on Saturday night in Hampton and Portsmouth on Interstate-95 and stole another car in Kittery, Maine, according to Kittery Police Lt. Russell French.

According to the Portsmouth police log, the high-speed chase began in Hampton just before 9 p.m. New Hampshire State Police troopers and Portsmouth police tried to stop West in Portsmouth, but were unsuccessful.

West then headed into Kittery, Maine where he stopped his vehicle, according to French. The suspect then exited the vehicle with a few other people and stole another vehicle in Kittery before he headed up to Wells, French said.

Wells, Maine, Police Lt. Jerry Congdon said West then proceeded to Kennebunkport where he was later arrested early Sunday morning.

At this point in the investigation, French said it is still being determined what charges West will face in Kittery. Wells police are currently preparing a report that will contain much more detailed information about what took place.

West is being held at the York County Jail in Alfred, Maine and will be arraigned in York District Court at a later date.