A man from Vermont incited a search across three states after a domestic violence event, during which he hit and dragged a Massachusetts state trooper before finally being apprehended in Connecticut.
The police attempted to arrest 23-year-old Mason Payne at his residence in Dover, Vermont, in response to a domestic assault incident involving a weapon, as reported by WBTS. However, he managed to escape in a black Audi A3 before the authorities reached the location, around 5 p.m. on a Tuesday.
Vermont State Police cautioned that Payne should be considered “armed and dangerous” and that he had made threats against law enforcement.
According to WCAX, Payne was armed with a rifle and wearing body armor.
Later, around 10 p.m., Massachusetts State troopers noticed his car, bearing a temporary Vermont plate, on Interstate 91 in Holyoke. They attempted to pull him over again, but Payne fled, dragging a trooper for several feet in the process. The trooper escaped with minor injuries, but Payne evaded capture once more.
Troopers then mobilized additional resources and pursued Payne, reaching speeds over 100 mph, though they were unable to stop him even after using tire deflation devices, as reported by WBTS. The chase was eventually called off when Payne neared a work zone with lane restrictions.
The Windsor County Sheriff’s Office posted late Wednesday morning that Payne had been taken into custody in Stamford, Connecticut.
The Dover Police Department is the primary agency handling the investigation, yet they have not shared specifics about the original domestic assault report. It remains unclear what charges Payne will ultimately face or if legal action will be taken against him in all three states. He is likely awaiting extradition in Connecticut.
