Ryan Emery, 31, of New Portland drove his truck down the Carrabassett River early Sunday and got it stuck about 200 feet from shore near the Wire Bridge, according to Somerset County Sheriff Dale Lancaster.

NEW PORTLAND — A local man faces charges after he decided to drive his truck and friends down the Carrabassett River early Sunday and the truck got stuck, according to the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office.

Ryan Emery, 31, of New Portland has been charged with operating after suspension, and has a civil violation of leaving a submerged vehicle in a waterway, according to a release from Sheriff Dale Lancaster of the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office. He is a fugitive from justice and has an extraditable warrant out of New Hampshire connected to being a habitual offender of motor vehicle offenses, according to the release.  

At approximately 8:30 a.m. Sunday, the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office received a call regarding a report of a Chevrolet pickup truck in the river, about 200 feet from shore near the Wire Bridge in New Portland.

It was also reported there was no one in or around the vehicle, Lancaster wrote. 

Deputy Isaac Wacome discovered a 2002 Chevrolet 2500 series pickup truck abandoned in the river with the license plates removed.  

Wacome requested a New Portland wrecker service to remove the vehicle from the river. While Wacome was attempting to locate the driver of the vehicle, Emery returned to recover his truck from the wrecker service and left the scene, Lancaster wrote.

Wacome intercepted Emery on Middle Road in New Portland. 

Wacome learned after questioning Emery that he and his friends were at the New Portland Fair on Saturday evening and Emery decided to drive his truck and his companions down the river at about 1 a.m. Sunday.  

When the truck got stuck, Emery took the plates and fled the scene. Further investigation revealed that alcohol was involved, Lancaster wrote.  

Emery is being held without bail at the Somerset County Jail in Madison, a corrections officer said. 

He is scheduled to appear at the Somerset County Unified Court on Wednesday, Nov. 8, in Skowhegan.

Wacome was assisted by Sgt. Scott Thrasher of the Maine Warden Service and the New Portland Fire Department.

Ryan Emery