BERNARDSTON — Three suspects were arrested in Bernardston Wednesday night following a high-speed speed chase on I-91 that ended off Exit 50.
Shawn Daley, 18, and a 17-year-old minor, both of Hartford, Connecticut; and Lee Griffin, 41, of Brattleboro, Vermont, were all arrested by State Police Wednesday evening.
According to State Trooper James DeAngelis, all three were charged with trafficking cocaine and fentanyl, possession of a class B drug with intent to distribute, possession of a class A drug with intent to distribute and conspiracy to violate drug law. Daley and Griffin were both charged with reckless endangerment to children. Additionally, Daley was also charged with intimidation of a witness.
Shortly after 10 p.m. a state trooper attempted to stop a vehicle near Exit 43 in Greenfield, which then allegedly fled at speeds exceeding 120 mph before getting off the highway at Exit 46, according to the Bernardston Police Department.
Upon exiting the highway, the vehicle got back onto I-91 and began operating erratically as its occupants allegedly threw out “hundreds of bags of suspected narcotics” while continuing northbound. Bernardston Police said the suspects swerved directly at one of its cruisers before an officer was able to use a tire deflation device to slow down the vehicle, which was abandoned by the suspects on the Exit 50 off ramp. The suspects then fled police by running into the woods.
Three suspects were arrested following a search executed by the State Police, Bernardston and Northfield police departments, as well as the Greenfield Police Department’s K-9. Police also seized suspected fentanyl, heroin and crack cocaine, according to the Bernardston Police Department.
Bernardston Police Sgt. John Richardson said the suspects were arrested approximately 35 to 40 minutes after they fled the vehicle. No officers were injured and no equipment was damages, other than his stop sticks, which were used to slow down the vehicle. He also thanked the Greenfield Police Department for bringing along their K-9, which was a “big help” in safely securing the scene.
All three suspects refused medical treatment and were cleared by ambulance personnel.
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com.