CHELSEA — A South Carolina man who fled a traffic stop on foot on River Road Tuesday morning has been arrested.

Walter Hawkins, 23, was taken into custody at a relative’s home in South Gardiner, according to Maine State Police Lt. Aaron Hayden.

Police had pulled Hawkins over for an undisclosed defect on his SUV, according to Hayden, and the suspect managed to escape through the passenger side door of his vehicle.

A police canine unit searched nearby woods to no avail, Hayden said, and search activities concluded shortly after 3 p.m.

At approximately 5:30 p.m., troopers found Hawkins at the relative’s home and took him into custody without incident, Hayden said.

He was charged with operating without a license, refusing to submit to arrest, failure to stop for an officer and leaving the scene of a property damage accident, Hayden said.

Hakwins is being held at the Kennebec County Jail.