WELLS — A man police say was running away from them as they were trying to arrest him for drunk driving on Wednesday night is recovering in the hospital after a police cruiser ran over him after he tripped and fell.  

The incident is being investigated by Maine State Police at the request of Wells Police, said Maine Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland.

McCausland said Keith Lee, 36, of Brandon, Florida, was running in a field off U.S. Route 1, known locally as Post Road, when he fell and a cruiser driven by officer Steven McDonald ran over him. 

Wells Police had been called to the parking lot of the X-tra Mart on Post Road for a vehicle that had been driving erratically. 

“After conducting a series of sobriety tests on Lee, the officers attempted to arrest him about 7:30 p.m. (and) he ran off into a nearby field,” McCausland said in a statement. “Two officers ran after him and Officer Steven McDonald drove the cruiser into the field attempting to assist in Lee’s apprehension.  That is when Lee fell and the cruiser ran over him.”

Lee is being treated at Maine Medical Center in Portland for non-life threatening injuries. A hospital spokeswoman said Lee is in fair condition.

Wells Police Chief Jo-Ann Putnam said McDonald is on paid administrative leave, as is standard practice, while the investigaiton is ongoing.

He was not injured, but was shaken by the incident, she said. 

Putnam said officer Stephanie Guillemette was chasing Lee when she fell and will be off until she recovers from injuries to her arm.

Lee faces a number of pending charges, Putnam said, and police are seeking a warrant for his arrest.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.