Armed Vermont Suspect Drags Massachusetts Trooper, Flees Toward Connecticut

Massachusetts State Police attempted to stop Mason L. Payne, a 23-year-old suspect wanted by Vermont authorities for a domestic assault involving a weapon, near Exit 15 on Interstate 91 in Holyoke. Payne, believed to be armed with a rifle and wearing body armor, fled the traffic stop, dragging a trooper several feet; the trooper was not seriously injured. The suspect led police on a high-speed chase exceeding 100 mph through Holyoke, with efforts including the deployment of K-9 units, helicopters, and a StarChase GPS tagging system, though the tagging attempt was unsuccessful. The pursuit was terminated by commanding officers near lane closures due to safety concerns for highway workers, but police believe Payne continued south into Connecticut. Authorities from Massachusetts and Vermont are coordinating the investigation, with Connecticut State Police now searching for the suspect. The incident began after a reported domestic assault in Dover, Vermont, earlier on the same day.