GREENFIELD — A Tennessee man who allegedly led the Greenfield Police Department on a 12.5-minute, 8-mile pursuit into Deerfield last week faces 11 charges after being arraigned.

Sujay Mooss, 48, of Knoxville, Tennessee, is facing several felony and misdemeanor charges for the afternoon pursuit on March 28 that ended in front of the former Bridal Barn & Tux Shoppe on Routes 5 and 10, including: two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, vandalism of property, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, failure to stop/yield, marked lanes violation, speeding, leaving the scene of property damage, failure to stop for police, weight violation on a state highway and disorderly conduct, according to court documents. Mooss was arraigned in Greenfield District Court on March 29.

A minor injury to the passenger of a vehicle Mooss allegedly sideswiped with his 2021 Hyundai was reported, although the victim refused treatment, according to court files.

At approximately 1:11 p.m. on March 28, Greenfield Police were dispatched to Bernardston Road to investigate a red SUV that was “traveling at a high rate of speed” toward the center of Greenfield. Dispatch received several 911 calls and advised Greenfield Police Officer Jedadiah Henry and Sgt. Jason Haskins at 2:15 p.m. about a report of a vehicle that was struck by a red SUV, according to Henry’s narrative.

When Henry passed the Center School on Bernardston Road, he wrote that he saw a red vehicle matching callers’ descriptions and immediately turned around and activated his lights to initiate a traffic stop. As he pulled up behind the vehicle, Mooss allegedly failed to stop for Henry and continued driving past the Route 2 bypass toward the center of Greenfield.

Officer Aaron McCloud deployed his stop sticks at the intersection of Silver and Federal streets, which struck all four of Mooss’ tires. Upon hitting the sticks, Mooss kept driving and avoided Officer Marcus Paulin’s spike strips, going through a red light at the intersection of Pierce and Federal streets.

Continuing toward the city center, Mooss turned right onto Main Street — from the left turn lane — before stopping outside the Toyota of Greenfield dealership. At this point, Henry prepared to exit his vehicle, but Mooss took off into oncoming traffic before turning onto River Street.

Mooss then continued down River and Mill Streets at a high rate of speed and turned onto Deerfield Street before passing through a red light at the intersection of Meridian and Deerfield streets. At this point, Haskins advised the Deerfield Police Department and Massachusetts State Police of the ongoing pursuit, and Mooss crossed into Deerfield with his tires reportedly smoking and nearly out of air.

Henry reported that Mooss continued past Old Deerfield, driving into the breakdown lane and oncoming traffic before his front left tire blew out in front of Williams Farm on Route 5 and 10. Deerfield Police Officer Mark Jacques took over the pursuit at this point as Mooss came to a stop in front of the former Bridal Barn. Haskins’ report notes that Mooss’ flat tires and exposed rims caused burned rubber marks and grooves in the roadway.

Henry, Jacques and Haskins approached Mooss with their firearms drawn, as he allegedly ignored verbal commands. While they spoke to Mooss, state troopers and Deerfield Police Sgt. Brian Ravish arrived to provide support. Ravish, according to Henry’s report, was able to get Mooss to exit the vehicle and he was transported to the Deerfield Police Station — uncuffed and unsearched at Ravish’s discretion.

Following the pursuit, Paulin returned to Bernardston Road to speak to the owner of the 2009 Subaru Legacy that Mooss allegedly hit after pulling into a driveway. Paulin reported the two victims in the vehicle pulled into the same driveway to check on Mooss after seeing him drive into oncoming traffic. They told Paulin they parked their vehicle and Mooss allegedly turned around and started driving toward them on a narrow section of the driveway. Both victims reported Mooss sideswiped the rear driver’s side area before driving southbound on Bernardston Road.

When arraigned on March 29, Mooss’ bail was set at $2,000. He is due back in Greenfield District Court on May 25 for a pretrial conference. Mooss is being represented by attorney R. David DeHerdt.

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.

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