SOUTH PORTLAND, ME — A South Portland police officer observed a vehicle operating erratically in the area of Maine Mall Road on April 17, 2026, at approximately 9:12 p.m.
The vehicle entered a parking lot and drove over a curb.
The officer initiated a traffic stop, and the vehicle initially pulled over.
When the officer attempted to make contact, the driver appeared frantic and refused to lower her window.
Based on the driver’s behavior and operation of the vehicle, the officer suspected impairment.
While awaiting backup, the driver fled the scene in the vehicle.
The vehicle operator then drove through multiple parking lots and re-entered Maine Mall Road, making several unsafe u-turns in the presence of other motorists and pedestrians.
At one point, her vehicle struck a police cruiser, and the driver continued to flee.
An officer was inside the vehicle when it was hit, but was not injured.
The vehicle then struck another police cruiser head-on in the parking lot of Dollar Tree on Maine Mall Road.
An officer was also inside this vehicle, but was not injured.
Following this crash, the fleeing vehicle was boxed in and finally stopped.
The operator was taken into custody, transported to a local hospital until medically cleared, then transported to the Cumberland County Jail.
Three South Portland Police Department cruisers sustained damage from the incident.
While the damage was minor overall, two cruisers were rendered inoperable until repairs are completed.
Celena Celeste Smith, 47, of Augusta, was charged with violating conditions of release, assault, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, refusing to submit to arrest or detention, failure to stop, remain and provide information, operating under the influence of drugs, driving to endanger, failing to stop for an officer and three counts of aggravated criminal mischief.
