MSP K9 Team Captures Greenfield Man Who Fled After Dragging Trooper on Route 91



A Massachusetts State Police K9 team and its support element this afternoon located and apprehended a suspect who tried to evade capture after dragging a Trooper on Route 91 north. 

The Trooper, a male, was attempting to stop the suspect, who was driving a 2007 Chevrolet Malibu sedan, for motor vehicle violations at the Holyoke rest area on the northbound side of the highway. The Trooper was standing outside the Malibu and was trying to secure the suspect when the suspect drove off. The Trooper was dragged a short distance by the Malibu. The suspect vehicle struck the Trooper’s cruiser and other vehicles as the suspect fled.

After he disengaged from the suspect vehicle, the Trooper radioed the State Police-Northampton Barracks and reported what had happened. The Trooper, who is assigned to the MSP Troop B Community Action Team, re-entered his cruiser and pursued the suspect up Route 91 north.

Several minutes later the suspect vehicle went off the road and crashed. The suspect exited the car and ran into adjacent woods, heading toward Route 5. 

Numerous MSP patrols, multiple MSP K9 Unit teams, and local police patrols rushed to the area to begin a search for the suspect. Troopers set up a perimeter around the area while State Troopers and Officers from the Northampton and Easthampton Police Departments, along with multiple K9 teams, searched the area, including along a bike trail and railroad tracks. Northampton Police launched a drone to assist in the search, and Easthampton Police launched a boat in the Connecticut River.

At approximately 5:35 PM, MSP K9 Unit Sgt. Jack Doherty and his partner Roxy located the suspect in the area and, along with a support element of other personnel, took the suspect into custody. 

The suspect is identified as MICHAEL J. WILLIAMS Jr., 45, of Greenfield. He was charged with the following offenses:

1. Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon;

2. Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle;

3. Operating After License was Suspended for Prior OUI offense;

4. Leaving the Scene of a Crash that Caused Personal Injury;

5. Failure to Stop for Police;

6. Speeding;

7. Marked Lanes Violation; and 

8. Resisting Arrest.

WILLIAMS is being held without bail for a violation of conditions of his probation from a previous conviction. He will be arraigned Monday in Northampton District Court. 

Following the pursuit, the Trooper who was dragged was transported by ambulance to Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton for a lower body injury. The Trooper was treated and released. 

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