State Police Nab Fleeing Driver During Wild Highway Chase In Vernon

VERNON, CT — State police in Connecticut have released details of a wild scene on Interstate 84 in Vernon during which a Stamford man fleeing authorities to the north was boxed in and apprehended.

According to an incident report, at 8:11 p.m. Thursday, state police at the Troop C barracks in Tolland were advised by the Massachusetts State Police that a black Nissan Frontier pickup had engaged Troopers in pursuit on I-84 westbound. MSP further advised Troop C that the Frontier had entered Connecticut on I-84 westbound and their troopers had disengaged the chase, according to an incident report.

Shortly after the vehicle entered Connecticut, Troop C began receiving 911 calls reporting the Nissan was being driven erratically and troopers set up posts along I-84 westbound in Tolland, and a Trooper spotted the vehicle traveling below the posted speed limit while failing to maintain its lane between exits 69 and 68, according to an incident report.

The trooper tried to initiate a traffic stop, at which point the driver of the Frontier accelerated to speeds exceeding 90 mph, according to an incident report. The Nissan returned to normal traffic speeds with more CSP units stationed further west on I-84 in Vernon, according to an incident report.

Upon approaching the area of Exit 65 in Vernon, a trooper positioned on the left shoulder successfully deployed stop sticks on the vehicle, deflating its tires and, as the Nissan began to reduce speed, troopers boxed it in within the high occupancy vehicle lane, according to an incident report.

The Nissan then collided with the concrete barrier, and the driver attempted to escape by heading into the grass center median, according to an incident report. Troopers surrounded the vehicle and the operator then came to a complete stop and surrendered, according to an incident report.

No injuries were reported.

The driver of the Nissan was identified as Jeffrey Lauture, 39, of Stamford. A search of Lauture's Nissan led to the discovery of a loaded handgun with a high-capacity magazine.

Lauture was transported to Troop C, where he was charged with:

• Reckless driving
• Engaging police in a pursuit (two counts)
• Evading responsibility - property damage
• Failure to maintain the proper lane
• Failure to drive at a reasonable distance apart
• Handheld use of a cellular device while operating a motor vehicle
• Driving without a license
• Illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle
• Illegal possession of a large capacity magazine
• Interfering with police
• Criminal possession of a pistol
• First-degree reckless endangerment

Lauture was initially held on a $500,000 bond, but that was cut in half at his arraignment in Rockville Superior Court Friday. He failed to post bail and is currently being held with a return date of Oct. 16, judicial system records show.

Massachusetts State Police were advised of Lauture's arrest in Connecticut.