Middletown, Ct. — On December 3, 2015 at approx. 3:00 p.m. a State Police Detective was traveling I-91 s/b in the area of exit 46 (Enfield) in the left lane when a silver Lexus approached from behind and began flashing the high beams in order to get the detective to move out of the way. The detective also noticed that the Lexus had blue and red LED lights on the passenger side sun visor that were flashing.
As the detective began to move from the left lane to the center lane the Lexus passed him in the left shoulder. The Lexus continued traveling in the left shoulder passing several vehicles that were also traveling in the left lane.
The detective recognized that the Lexus was not a Law Enforcement vehicle, and radioed Troop H-Hartford for assistance since he was not driving a state police cruiser.
The Lexus was traveling in excess of 100 mph when it was eventually slowed by heavy traffic. At this time the detective caught up to the Lexus, pulled alongside the Lexus, and identified himself as a Connecticut State Trooper. The operator of the Lexus, Antonio Stephens, identified himself as a Sheriff’s Officer in Massachusetts.
Stephens was then asked what type of emergency he was responding to. Stephens stated he could not hear the detective, so as the detective began to step from his vehicle and approach the Lexus, Stephens put the Lexus in drive and exited the highway via exit 41. The detective did not follow Stephens, but observed him as he proceeded to drive recklessly, and on the wrong side of the road, causing vehicles to swerve out of the way to avoid crashing with the Lexus. Stephens continued traveling through Hartford evading troopers.
Troop H Troopers and the detective were able to identify the operator of the Lexus via the Massachusetts license plate on the rear of the Lexus, and with the assistance of Agawam Police Department.
After being contacted at his residence, Antonio Stephens later turned himself in to Troop H where he was processed and released on a cash bond.
