FAIRFIELD -- A 110-mph, 20-minute police chase landed a Fairfield man in jail after a spike strip punctured a tire on his purple 1996 Chevrolet Beretta.

Ernest Almeida, 26, of 12 Summit St. went to Somerset County Jail early Friday on charges of eluding an officer, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, reckless conduct, violation of conditions of release, illegal attachment of plates and passing on a road block.

The chase started when Almeida allegedly squealed his tires as he headed out onto U.S. Route 201 near the spot where Maine State Trooper Rick Moody was standing outside his cruiser. Moody turned on his blue lights and gave chase, but Almeida sped up and went out onto Interstate 95.

It was nearly 3 a.m., and few drivers were on the roads, Moody said.

"We were very lucky that traffic was light that night," he said. "Every time we approached vehicles I slowed down to take the pressure off of him. Even though he passed unsafely, the speed had been reduced."

Almeida and Moody ended up passing only four cars during the 15- or 20-minute chase, and no one was injured. The fleeing driver made a giant loop and returned to U.S. Route 201, where Somerset County deputies had set up a road block near the intersection of Middle and Norridgewock roads.

The Beretta veered into the oncoming lane and dodged cruisers and a cement island in the middle of the road, but one or more of the tires on the right side of the car ran over the spike strip.

As he continued to drive, police could see the damage, Moody said.

The damaged tire "started spitting smoke from the rubber as the wheel started to disintegrate," Moody said. "It was pretty quick -- went from small pieces to large pieces coming off, then it was all sparks when the tire came off."

At this point, Almeida pulled over, and police arrested him at gunpoint. An unidentified female also exited the vehicle, but police said she had been an unwilling passenger and released her without charges.

"That was my first chase," Moody said. "The adrenaline was amazing"

"Nobody got hurt, which was my number one concern."

Joel Elliott -- 861-9252

jelliott@centralmaine.com