LEYDEN — A police pursuit originating in Vermont ended in an arrest at gunpoint in Leyden on Friday.
William Tronsen, 50, of Bennington, Vt., was charged with attempting to elude, aggravated disorderly conduct, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, failure to stop and a marked lanes violation.
According to Leyden Police Chief Dan Galvis, Tronsen was also charged with an OUI after he refused a field sobriety test and breathalyzer. This is his second offense following a pending OUI from an arrest in Vermont three months ago.
Galvis said a “be on the lookout,” or BOLO, order was issued out of Vermont for shots fired Friday at approximately 1:30 p.m. Brattleboro police located Tronsen’s silver Toyota Tacoma and followed him over state lines into Leyden.
Leyden officers received a call requesting assistance at approximately 5:30 p.m. Police Officer Nicholas Hansmann and Sgt. Tina Riddell responded and pursued Tronsen as he fled along Greenfield Road and Alexander Road.
“They used a two-pronged approach,” Galvis said.
With Riddell and a Vermont state trooper pursuing the suspect, Hansmann came up North County Road to intercept the vehicle, blocking the road. Galvis said the driver was “slow to get out,” and was ordered to exit the vehicle at gunpoint.
According to Galvis, officers did not find any guns in the vehicle. He noted there was a period where Tronsen had lost pursuing officers in Vermont, and it is possible he could have disposed of a weapon during that time.
During the bail procedure, Galvis said Tronsen was asked why he hadn’t responded to officers’ orders to stop his vehicle. According to Galvis, Tronsen responded by saying, “I didn’t do anything wrong, so I didn’t feel I had to stop.”
Zack DeLuca can be reached at zdeluca@recorder.com or 413-930-4579.