State police terminated the chase after the suspect's speed reached 90 mph.
WHATELY – A 24-year-old Pembroke man, who allegedly led a state trooper on a vehicle chase with speeds hitting 90 mph late Thursday night, was arrested about 65 minutes later in Deerfield - well after the chase had been terminated - when his pickup truck hit a tree.
The suspect, Derin M. Johnson, was not injured in the crash.
State police spokesman David Procopio said the chase began shortly before 11:40 p.m. when Trooper Steven Larocco saw a dark-colored pickup truck swerving erratically as it drove north on Route 5.
When the trooper attempted to stop the pickup, the driver refused to stop and increased his speed. Larocco, who received permission to initiate a pursuit from his commanding officer in Northampton, gave chase, Procopio said.
Larocco was ordered to break off the pursuit, however, when the pickup’s speed hit 90 mph. The trooper was able to get a plate number, however, and area law enforcement agencies were told to be on the lookout for a dark-colored 2004 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, Procopio said.
Larocco spotted the suspect’s vehicle in the area of 36 Elm St., at about 12:45 a.m. The trooper, who did not give chase, saw the suspect then crash the Silverado into a tree.
Larocco took Johnson into custody after a struggle. He was charged with reckless operation of a motor vehicle, failure to stop for a police officer, failure to stop or yield, failure to signal, speeding, operating with a revoked license as a habitual offender and marked lanes violation, Procopio said.
Johnson denied the charged in Greenfield District Court on Friday. He was released on his own recognizance and ordered to return on Aug. 2 for a pre-trial hearing.