A man was arrested on Thursday after leading state police in Massachusetts and Connecticut on separate pursuits that ended when Connecticut troopers were able to deploy stop sticks, leading to the driver crashing into a concrete barrier.
Troopers just after 8:10 p.m. learned that Massachusetts State Police had been pursuing the driver of a black Nissan Frontier who was last seen heading into Connecticut via Interstate 84 West before they abandoned the pursuit, according to Connecticut State Police.
Shortly after the driver entered Connecticut, state police said they began receiving 911 calls reporting a driver in a pickup truck driving erratically. State police then took posts along the highway before a trooper spotted the vehicle allegedly being driven below the speed limit and failing to stay in one lane in the area of Exits 69 and 68.
State police were able to use stop sticks to apprehend a driver who led authorities in two states on separate pursuits. (Courtesy of Connecticut State Police)
According to state police, the trooper flipped on their lights and siren to initiate a traffic stop, but the driver allegedly sped up and reached speeds of more than 90 mph. The trooper then abandoned the traffic stop.
Not far away, another trooper spotted the driver, who had returned to a slower speed, state police said. Additional troopers were stationed along the highway in Vernon.
In the area of Exit 65, a trooper deployed stop sticks that successfully deflated the driver’s tires. State police said troopers tried boxing the pickup in as the vehicle slowed down in the high occupancy vehicle lane.
According to state police, the pickup driver then collided with a concrete jersey barrier and continued driving, attempting to escape the box-in attempt by driving in the grass median area. Troopers were able to surround the vehicle before it came to a stop, state police said.
State police said the driver surrendered and was identified as 39-year-old Jeffrey Lauture of Stamford. Inside the pickup truck, troopers allegedly found a loaded handgun with a high-capacity magazine, according to state police. The gun and magazine were seized.
No injuries were reported, state police said.
Lauture was arrested on two counts of engaging police in pursuit and a single count each of reckless driving, evading responsibility, failure to maintain proper lane, failure to drive at a reasonable distance apart, handheld use of a cellular device while operating a motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle without a license, illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, illegal possession of a large capacity magazine, interfering with an officer/resisting, criminal possession of a pistol/revolver and first-degree reckless endangerment.
He was held on a $500,000 bond and was expected to appear in Rockville Superior Court on Friday.
State police said they notified Massachusetts authorities of the arrest.
