Armed Suspect In 3-State Chase Now In Custody: CT State Police

NORTH STONINGTON, CT —A police chase with an armed man in a pickup truck that began in Massachusetts, and proceeded through Rhode Island into Connecticut, ended in North Stonington Wednesday afternoon, according to state police.

Ian Grant, 36, of Massachusetts is being held as a fugitive from justice by Connecticut State Police after his Toyota pickup was forced off the road in North Stonington by state police. And, after negotiations with Grant failed, both pepper spray and tear gas were deployed by Rhode Island State Police to get him into custody, state police said.

Connecticut State Police spokesperson Trooper First Class Pedro Muñiz said that there are "firearms inside the truck," but added that they cannot be secured until a search warrant is obtained. He said as a result, he could not confirm how many, or what kind of guns Grant had.

The three-state chase began late Wednesday morning.

Around 11:45 a.m., Massachusetts State Police said in a tweet that troopers were searching for a "suspect/vehicle that fled during pursuit." They described a white Toyota Tacoma pickup believed to be driven by a white male, "possibly armed."

According to WCVB in Boston, some 40 minutes later, Rhode Island State Police were in pursuit on I-95.

A video from a Boston news station shows the white, extended cab pickup going off I-95 South in Rhode Island and crossing the state line into Connecticut.

The TV station's helicopter, Sky 5, captured footage of the fleeing truck. It's reported that then a "police vehicle hit the truck from behind, causing the pickup to lose control and crash" in a wooded area on Route 2 in North Stonington.

Massachusetts State Police tweeted at around 1 p.m. that the truck "is stopped in Connecticut."

"A perimeter has been established," the tweet read. "Suspect believed armed. Public and news helicopters should keep their distance from the scene."

Around 1:45 p.m., Connecticut State Police issued a statement saying they were "assisting Rhode Island State Police with an out-of-state investigation and pursuit, which ended in North Stonington. The scene is active but contained. Area schools have been notified."

In a tweet, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Lt. Brian Foley said the "scene is active but contained. At this point no immediate threat to the area. However the business districts and schools have been notified by the Connecticut state police of the situation."

Reports indicate that the fleeing driver made it off of I-95 and onto Route 2, first in Stonington, then into North Stonington.

By 2:20 p.m., Grant was in custody after having had pepper spray and tear gas used to get him to surrender, state police said. Grant was initially being pursued by Massachusetts State Police on a felony warrant and intimidation of a witness, Fox 61 reported.