A high-speed pursuit involving multiple police departments unfolded yesterday morning as a 14-year-old experiencing a mental health crisis fled in a stolen vehicle, traveling through three states. The ordeal began in Hinsdale, New Hampshire, and continued across state lines into Vermont and Massachusetts before reaching a dramatic end in a Bernardston parking lot. NBC Boston first reported the chase that prompted a coordinated effort by law enforcement to ensure public safety and the welfare of the teen involved.
According to the released statements, it was around 7 a.m. when authorities from Hinsdale requested support from Brattleboro, Vermont Police Department. Despite the efforts to address the mental health emergency, the youth took control of a relative’s vehicle and sped away. As the situation escalated, Brattleboro police set up roadblocks on Route 119, but the minor avoided them, as noted by Newport Dispatch. Thereafter, the officers trailed the adolescent at a safe distance.
The pursuit continued into Massachusetts, where the Bernardston Police Department played a pivotal role. Officers managed to deploy spike strips effectively, causing the vehicle to crash into several pieces of private property. The chase culminated with the suspect’s vehicle hitting a Brattleboro police cruiser and being boxed in, leading to the apprehension of the juvenile. Remarkably, no injuries were reported either to the young individual or to any law enforcement personnel involved in the incident.
Collaboration among various agencies was crucial in bringing this high-stakes chase to a close without casualties. Departments from Hinsdale, Brattleboro, Bernardston, Gill, and Greenfield, in addition to the Bernardston Fire Department and Northfield EMS, worked in concert through this ordeal. The juvenile was subsequently taken into protective custody by Bernardston Police. As the investigation continues, details around the events that triggered the pursuit and the juvenile’s mental health status remain under examination by the authorities involved.
