By Joshua Rivera
Early Friday evening at approximately 5:35 PM, Massachusetts State Police arrested Michael J. Williams Jr., 45, of Greenfield, Massachusetts.
Williams has been charged with Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon; Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle; Operating After License was Suspended for Prior OUI offense; Leaving the Scene of a Crash that Caused Personal Injury; Failure to Stop for Police; Speeding; Marked Lanes Violation; and Resisting Arrest.
At around 3:00 PM on Friday, a Massachusetts State Police Trooper assigned to the Massachusetts State Police Troop B Community Action Team attempted to make a motor vehicle stop for motor vehicle violations at the Holyoke rest area on the northbound side of Route 91.
The Trooper approached the vehicle and made contact with the operator of the vehicle, who was identified as Williams. The trooper was attempting to secure Williams, when Williams drove off. The Trooper was dragged a short distance by Williams as he attempted to flee the stop.
While fleeing the area, Williams struck the Trooper’s cruiser and other vehicles.
After the Trooper was able to disengage from the vehicle, the Trooper radioed the State Police-Northampton Barracks and reported what had happened.
The Trooper re-entered his cruiser and pursued Williams up Route 91 north.
Williams eventually went off the roadway and crashed. He exited his vehicle and ran into adjacent woods, heading toward Route 5.
Additional Massachusetts State Police patrols responded to the area as well as Massachusetts State Police K9 Units, and local police.
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 also assisted with launching a drone and Easthampton Police launched a boat in the Connecticut River.
At approximately 5:35 PM, a Massachusetts State Police K9 Unit located Williams in the area and took him into custody.
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.
The Trooper who was dragged was transported to Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton for a lower body injury, was treated and has been released.