Police: Carjacking escape foiled by woman

ELLSWORTH, Maine, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Police in Maine said a man who escaped from a courtroom and tried to steal a car was foiled by the fighting skills of a 19-year-old woman.

The Hancock County Sheriff's Department said Thomas Sawyer, 42, of Brooklin, Maine, escaped from the Hancock County Court House, where he had been brought from the county jail Wednesday to face charges of violation of probation and violation of a protective order, the Bangor (Maine) Daily News reported Thursday.

Deputy Jeff McFarland said details of the escape were unavailable, but Sawyer jumped into the driver's seat of a parked car and ordered a woman sitting in the passenger seat to get out. However, he said the woman refused to leave and instead fought with the man while he tried to drive.

"He told her to get out of the car or he would kill her," McFarland said. "She didn't get out. She fought him off. She was punching him and kicking him. She beat him all the way up Bridge Hill."

McFarland said Sawyer exited the car and was caught by police moments later. Authorities said he will now face charges of escape and robbery.