By Jim Clark

As Somerville police were alerted to be on the lookout for a stolen 2008 Lexus around midnight last Wednesday, an officer picked up the car’s LoJack signal and proceeded to track the vehicle’s whereabouts.

The officer radioed other units in the vicinity to assist in locating the vehicle and then proceeded to search the area himself.

Another unit located the vehicle and attempted to affect a stop, but the driver sped away in an apparent attempt to flee the area, according to reports.

The driver of the stolen car reportedly drove very erratically and made several sharp turns onto various streets as he attempted to elude capture.

At one point an officer attempted to block the roadway with his police cruiser but the fugitive driver reportedly headed straight towards it before finally veering away, narrowly avoiding a collision.

The pursuit continued throughout several city neighborhoods as the runaway driver reportedly disregarded “Do Not Enter” signs, traveling against traffic.

As the pursuit continued the alleged car thief reportedly sideswiped three different vehicles in his attempt to get away.

The stolen car was eventually followed across the city line into Medford where the driver reportedly took a turn too fast and crashed into a retaining wall. The driver then jumped out of the car and attempted to run away, but was soon chased down and detained by officers on the scene.

Police learned from RMV records that he driver of the stolen car, Michael Splaine, 24, had a revoked driver’s license related to prior stolen vehicle incidents.

Splaine reportedly had in his possession items belonging to the owner of the stolen car, including $300 worth of American Express Gift cards. He was placed under arrest and charged with reckless operation of a motor vehicle, operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license, credit card fraud over $250, and receiving a stolen motor vehicle.

The owner of the stolen car told police that she had momentarily left the car running as she stopped into Tony’s Food Land on Broadway. The woman was issued a citation for unattended vehicle left running.