A New Jersey man was arrested yesterday after leading state police on a 20-mile, high-speed chase on northbound Interstate 95.

Sgt. Laura Lu Herman, a state police spokeswoman, said Tfc. Randall Kemp of the John F. Kennedy Barracks was on northbound I-95 near the Beltway in the Rossville area about 7: 40 a.m. when a rented 1998 Chevrolet Malibu went past him at 106 mph. The posted speed limit there is 65 mph.

Kemp gave chase and tried to stop the driver, who increased his speed, at one point reaching 140 mph, Herman said.

During the chase, Herman said, the driver tried to ram several police cars and nearly struck Tfc. Eric Harbold, who was placing stop-sticks -- pointed spikes designed to slowly deflate a vehicle's tires -- in the road between the Aberdeen and Havre de Grace exits in Harford County.

Herman said Harbold dived onto a grassy median strip to avoid the car.

She said the Malibu went over the stop-sticks south of the Havre de Grace exit and two of its tires deflated, causing the car to stop. After a struggle with police, the driver was arrested, Herman said.

She said Spencer Middleton, 28, of Hamilton, N.J., was charged with first-degree assault, reckless driving, fleeing and eluding, and speeding. He was being held in lieu of $150,000 bond at Harford County Detention Center pending a bail hearing, Herman said.

Pub Date: 8/14/98