An inmate at the Androscoggin County Jail is back in custody after a wild escape that ended in a couple of car crashes.

It Wasn't Exactly the Great Escape

I think David Ricardo Mockler, 23 of Lisbon, must be a Steve McQueen fan. On Monday, he escaped from the Androscoggin County Jail in dramatic fashion and might have actually succeeded if not for a pair of car crashes that followed.

According to the Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office,  it was around 9:35 Monday morning when Mockler climbed a fence in the recreation area. He squeezed through two rows of some nasty-looking barbed wire and then jumped approximately 25 feet off a roof. Once on the ground, the inmate found a vehicle owned by Tina Chouinard of Greene, parked in the side lot of the County Building on Court Street, that was unlocked and had the keys in it. He hopped behind the wheel and he was gone.

Things started to go wrong when Mockler crashed into another vehicle in the area of 1724 Minot Avenue in Auburn, which caused extensive damage to both vehicles. He left the scene of the accident.

How Was He Caught?

Mechanic Falls Police Officers located the stolen vehicle and tried to pull it over, but Mockler refused to stop. Deputies from the Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office and Auburn Police Department also responded to assist in the pursuit that involved speeds of less than 40 miles per hour, since the crash had caused extensive damage to one of his tires. Mockler turned into a private driveway in the 400 block of South Main Street in Mechanic Falls where he again crashed Chouinard's vehicle. At this point, he was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital by Poland Fire-Rescue with a possible broken ankle that officials believe he sustained in the jump from the roof.

Why Was He in Jail and What New Charges Does He Face?

David Ricardo Mockler has been incarcerated since May 15, 2022, and was being held on charges of aggravated trafficking of scheduled drugs, unlawful possession of cocaine base, theft by unauthorized taking, criminal mischief, and violating conditions of his release. He now faces additional charges connected to the Auburn crash, as well as theft of the vehicle, and failing to stop for police.

20 Maine News Stories that Have Shocked Us Since the Year 2000

These 20 news stories, from the past 21 years, had an impact felt around the state. Here are the stories that captured our attention are listed in no particular order.

Tick Population Explodes this Year, Here's How to Protect Yourself

This weekend, a Maine woman was busy pulling a family of ticks out of her fathers beard. This year the tick population is exploding and this is what you should do. 

More From 92 Moose