BELFAST — A Lincolnville man was arrested after fleeing the scene of a traffic stop on April 17.

Michael Thompson, 38, first came to the attention of Belfast Police just before midnight, due to a faulty taillight, according to Sgt. John Gibbs.

Thompson was spotted traveling south on Route 1 by Officer Benjamin Kolko, who initiated a traffic stop just before the Searsport town line.

Though Thompson pulled over when prompted, once stopped Thompson immediately “took off running into a field,” while clutching a reflective safety vest, Gibbs said.

“He wasn’t hard to find with the reflective vest in his hands,” he added.

Thompson, who was found to be under the influence, was reportedly cooperative once located by Kolko.

A bottle of coffee brandy was found hidden in a ditch during the course of investigation.

It was discovered that the vehicle he was operating was not one that he owned, and instead had been taken from a driveway in Lincolnville. The owner, who reportedly told officers he did not know Thompson, only noticed the vehicle missing after Thompson’s arrest.

Thompson told Kolko that he had known the owner of the vehicle for many years, Gibbs said.

Thompson has been charged with operating under the influence, theft by unauthorized use of property, falsifying physical evidence, refusing to submit to arrest or detention, and operating after habitual offender revocation.

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com