The Monday afternoon drive on I-91 north in Holyoke turned chaotic when an attempted traffic stop for speeding spiraled into a high-speed chase, a crash at the Exit 15A ramp, a brief foot pursuit and the ultimate arrest of the driver, authorities said. Troopers reported recovering firearms and what they described as a large amount of marijuana from the vehicle, and multiple people now face a stack of gun and drug charges.
How State Police Say It All Went Down
According to the Massachusetts State Police, a trooper from the Springfield barracks tried to stop a speeding vehicle on I-91 north on Monday afternoon. Instead of pulling over, the vehicle reportedly kept heading north at an estimated 90 to 107 miles per hour before exiting and crashing on the Exit 15A off-ramp. Police said the driver then jumped the guardrail and took off on foot while troopers and partner units fanned out to search the area.
After a short foot chase, officers said they found the driver in Holyoke at about 2:43 p.m. and took that person into custody. Two additional occupants were detained at the crash scene as part of the same investigation.
Three Names, A Long List Of Charges
State police identified three people connected to the incident and said each now faces multiple charges. De'Shye Brewster of Springfield is charged with failure to report a firearms transaction and possession with intent to distribute a Class D drug. Kevon Crittendon faces charges that include possession of a large-capacity feeding device and possession with intent to distribute a Class D drug. Markus Mathieu is charged with failure to stop for police, negligent operation, marked-lanes violations, speeding and possession with intent to distribute a Class D drug.
Investigators said firearms and a large amount of marijuana were recovered from the vehicle. Detectives are still working to determine which of the detained occupants could face additional charges as the case develops.
Another Stop, Another Seizure
The Springfield–Holyoke corridor has been seeing more of this kind of traffic-stop-turned-bust lately. Western Mass. News reported a May traffic stop in Springfield that led to the seizure of a loaded machine gun and five arrests. Earlier in the year, Boston.com detailed coordinated state police operations in February that resulted in the recovery of multiple firearms and large quantities of fentanyl and cocaine. Local reporting has noted that these cases line up with a broader enforcement push by state police in the region.
What Comes Next
The three arrested individuals are presumed innocent, as the charges are allegations that must be proven in court. Hampden County prosecutors will decide on formal charges once investigators finish their work, and upcoming court records will lay out the next steps in the case.
