Man in Stolen Windsor, CT, Fire Pickup Truck Conducts Traffic Stops

A Connecticut man was arrested after he used a stolen fire department pickup truck to pull over drivers on Interstate 91 in Western Massachusetts early Saturday, according to the Massachusetts State Police.

The suspect, Kristian Avery, 46, of Windsor, Connecticut, was taken into custody at 5 a.m., according to a statement from Tim McGuirk of the State Police.

State Police in the Northampton barracks received reports that the driver of a Windsor (Connecticut) Fire Department pickup was “conducting suspicious motor vehicle stops” on I-91 north in Northampton and Whatley, the statement reads.

The driver activated emergency lights on the truck, pulled over drivers and spoke with them during each stop, according to the State Police.

A short time after a bulletin about the truck was issued to area law enforcement, a trooper saw the pickup on I-91 in Deerfield (mile marker 36) and pulled it over. The driver stopped briefly before attempting to flee with police in pursuit, according to the statement.

Troopers and Deerfield Police used stop sticks to halt the pickup near the Deerfield Weigh Station (mile marker 37).

Officials in Connecticut told State Police Avery broke into the Windsor firehouse, attempted to start a fire and stole the pickup truck early Saturday morning, according to the statement.

Avery will face charges in Massachusetts, including receiving stolen property, impersonating a police officer, failure to stop for police, negligent operation, and improper use of emergency lights.

The incident remains under investigation.

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