Ryan Walsh : Springfield Officer Injured, Teens Arrested

The driver was apprehended on the 1200 block of Carew Street, while the other three occupants were captured on Fordham Street. The police officer whose vehicle was struck sustained injuries and is currently undergoing evaluation at a nearby hospital.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A pursuit involving a stolen vehicle culminated in the apprehension of four teenagers and left one police officer injured in Springfield on Tuesday morning.

Springfield Police Spokesperson Ryan Walsh reported that at around 10:15 a.m., officers were summoned to the vicinity of Bay Street and Dartmouth Street following a report of a firearm, with an individual in a Kia allegedly brandishing a shotgun out of the window.

Shortly after receiving the call, law enforcement officers located the suspected vehicle on State Street and observed an occupant pointing a gun out of the window. When they attempted to intercept the vehicle, it sped off recklessly, eventually evading the pursuing officers.

A detective later sighted the vehicle near Catherine Street and made an attempt to halt it. The driver continued to drive at high speeds through a construction zone, causing an officer working in the area to leap out of harm’s way to avoid being hit. The chase proceeded to St. James Avenue, where the officers witnessed the vehicle coming to a stop, its four occupants exiting, and then re-entering the car upon noticing a police cruiser.

The vehicle continued to speed down St. James Avenue and was later spotted by an officer on Carew Street. The suspected vehicle collided with the officer’s cruiser, causing the vehicle to flip over before landing back on its wheels. Subsequently, all four occupants attempted to flee on foot.

Upon the arrival of the 22News team, multiple police cars had surrounded the area, and the vehicles involved were being towed away. An eyewitness recounted the incident, stating, “I saw police coming from the opposite direction, and this stolen car was heading this way. Their vehicles collided head-on, and the stolen car went airborne, flipping four times.”

The driver was taken into custody on the 1200 block of Carew Street, while the other three occupants were apprehended on Fordham Street. The officer whose cruiser was struck sustained injuries and is currently receiving medical attention at a nearby hospital.

The vehicle was reported stolen, with the driver identified as a 16-year-old boy. The passengers included a 16-year-old girl and two 15-year-old boys. Due to their ages, their identities and booking photographs are not being disclosed. Authorities were unable to immediately recover the firearm.

The incident remains under investigation by the Springfield Police Department.

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