An Oak Bluffs man is facing numerous charges after police say he rammed a police car and drove off the Oak Bluffs Steamship Authority pier in an attempt to evade arrest. 

Justin Leblanc, 50, pleaded not guilty in Edgartown District Court Friday to 12 charges following his arrest late Thursday night. 

At about 9:30 p.m., Oak Bluffs police saw a man, later identified as Mr. Leblanc in court records, driving a pickup truck in town, police said in a statement. Mr. Leblanc was wanted for domestic violence charges and police tried to pull him over on Masonic avenue, but he continued to drive over to Massasoit avenue.

Mr. Leblanc eventually stopped, but then put the truck in reverse and slammed into the police cruiser driven by Sgt. Christopher Wiggin, police said. The truck then drove onto Seaview avenue before going onto the gated ramp of the nearby Steamship Authority pier and launching into the water, according to police. 

Police say the driver reversed into the cruiser. — Courtesy of Oak Bluffs police

Mr. Leblanc swam away from the vehicle and climbed onto one of the pilings, but later got into a police and fire boat that had responded, police said. Police took him into custody and he was brought to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital for minor hand injuries that occurred when he exited the truck. 

The vehicle was pulled out of the water by JWL Transport and Packer Marine with a barge and crane on Tuesday morning.

Mr. Leblanc was charged with two counts of assault and battery on a family or household member, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery on a police officer, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, two counts of vandalism, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, refusal to stop for police, trespassing with a motor vehicle and speeding. 

A district court judge set Mr. Leblanc’s bail at $5,000 and ordered him to stay away from the alleged domestic violence victim.

The police officer in the cruiser was not hurt. Police said that because the initial police response was for a domestic violence case, they would not release any further information. 

The truck is pulled up from the water Tuesday morning. — Courtesy of Oak Bluffs police

The Oak Bluffs Steamship Authority terminal is closed for the off-season, and the ferry line reported they are checking on the damage. 

“A full assessment of damages will be made, including the use of a dive team to inspect the pilings,” Steamship spokesperson Sean Driscoll said in a statement. 

The ferry line was cooperating with state and Oak Bluffs police with their investigation and referred all further questions to the departments. 

The Steamship Authority also said that it was reviewing its video footage of the event to determine if any footage is able to be released in accordance with its security protocols. 

Oak Bluffs police had posted three security videos on social media that showed the truck plow through the pier gate before driving off the ramp and into the water. 

At the Steamship Authority’s port council meeting Tuesday, Steamship staff said they were looking into opening the Oak Bluffs terminal in the next 10 days or so to alleviate the delays from the slip work in Vineyard Haven. 

Addison Antonoff contributed to this report.