Suspect in Cushing death arrested after barricading himself in vehicle

An Augusta man has been arrested in connection with last week’s death in Cushing.

Jason Hewett, 39, has been charged with eluding an officer, domestic assault and manslaughter, according to Shannon Moss, a spokesperson for the Maine Department of Public Safety.

His arrest on Tuesday follows a police chase that began about 2 p.m. on Route 32 in Windsor. State troopers pursued Hewett onto Route 3 toward Augusta until he went into a ditch and onto the lawn of Nadeau Chiropractic and Wellness Center to avoid spike mats, Moss said Wednesday morning.

Hewett then barricaded himself in the vehicle for four hours, according to Moss.

He eventually surrendered and was arrested and taken to the Kennebec County Jail in Augusta.

Moss said that Hewett is a suspect in the Cushing death investigation .

A dead body was found in Cushing late last week, and police spent Friday and Saturday at a River Road residence in the town.

Moss did not identify the victim, saying the Maine medical examiner is still working to make a positive identification and authorities haven’t notified next of kin. But the Courier-Gazette identified the victim this week as 45-year-old Kyle MacDougall, citing documents filed in Knox County court.

Another man, 41-year-old Mark Gagne, was arrested Friday and charged with hindering apprehension and abuse of a corpse. He appeared in court on those charges Monday.

No additional information was immediately released.

The death remains under investigation.