Greenfield man held on $100K bail for alleged hit-and-run that injured trooper in Holyoke
Published: 09-28-2023 6:34 PM |
HOLYOKE — A Greenfield man facing eight criminal counts in relation to an alleged hit-and-run in which he dragged a state trooper was ordered held on $100,000 bail at his arraignment Wednesday in Holyoke District Court.
Michael J. Williams, 45, is charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of personal injury, refusal to stop for police, withholding evidence from a criminal proceeding, speeding, resisting arrest and a marked lanes violation.
Several local police departments, including Holyoke, Easthampton and Northampton, assisted State Police in the two-hour search for Williams on Sept. 22 after he crashed his vehicle and ran off into the woods. He was taken into custody at around 5:30 p.m. near the junction of East Street and Route 5 in Easthampton.
According to a report by Lt. Matthew Mielke of the State Police, Trooper Theodore Tudryn stopped Williams’ yellow 2007 Chevrolet Malibu in the northbound rest area on Interstate 91 in Holyoke for following too closely and because Williams had a suspended license.
Williams provided the trooper with his license and registration, but started his vehicle and drove off as Tudryn was trying to handcuff him, police said. Police noted there were other vehicles and pedestrians at the rest area at the time.
Tudryn was reportedly dragged a short distance before falling to the ground. He suffered a leg injury that later required hospital treatment but was able to pursue Williams in his cruiser as Williams drove into the median, back onto the highway, passing traffic in the breakdown lane and hitting a Ford Escape before crashing into a rock wall in the median, according to the police report.
Tudryn was unable to give chase, and other police departments and search dogs were called in.
After Williams’ arrest, he was taken to the Northampton Police Station for booking, where troopers allegedly saw him take what appeared to be a bundle of heroin out of his pants and swallow it. This led to the charge of withholding evidence.
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Emergency personnel were called to take Williams to Cooley Dickinson Hospital for treatment. His arraignment was delayed two days because he was still in hospital.
The owner of the Ford Escape, Edward Borowski, reportedly told police that Williams’ car was almost completely sideways when it hit the front of his vehicle. Borowski experienced some chest pain from the crash, but declined to be taken to the hospital and was able to drive his vehicle away.
Police stated they found no contraband in Williams’ vehicle but learned his license was suspended due to a Sept. 19 OUI drugs conviction out of Northampton District Court. He was on probation.
Williams is being held at the Hampshire County Jail and House of Correction. His next court date is Oct. 18.