FAIRFIELD — A 110-mph, 20-minute police chase landed a Fairfield man in jail after a spike strip punctured a tire on his purple 1996 Chevrolet Beretta.

Ernest Almeida, 26, of 12 Summit St. went to Somerset County Jail early Friday on charges of eluding an officer, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, reckless conduct, violation of conditions of release, illegal attachment of plates and passing on a road block.

The chase started when Almeida allegedly squealed his tires as he headed out onto Route 201 near the spot where Maine State Trooper Rick Moody was standing outside his cruiser. Moody turned on his blue lights and gave chase, but Almeida sped up and went out onto Interstate 95.

It was nearly 3 a.m., and few drivers were on the roads, Moody said.

“We were very lucky that traffic was light that night,” he said. “Every time we approached vehicles I slowed down to take the pressure off of him. Even though he passed unsafely, the speed had been reduced.”