Driver that Injured Norwood Officer Chased Through Foxborough

NORWOOD, MA - A Norwood police officer was transported to the hospital Wednesday after he was struck by a truck driven by a man he was attempting to arrest.

At around 1:30 a.m., a Norwood officer recognized a man in a truck on Lenox Avenue he knew had several arrest warrants. When the officer went to the vehicle to remove the driver, he drove away, hitting the officer, according to the Norwood Police Department. When the officer asked the driver to step out of the vehicle, he drove away, hitting the officer, according to the Norwood Police Department

The driver, identified as Steven Brant Jr., 29, of North Attleboro, traveled through Walpole and Foxborough, before coming back to Norwood. While driving, state police used stop sticks in Walpole, puncturing at least one tire, according to Norwood police.

The pursuit was about 20 minutes long, with the chase coming to an end when the truck crashed on Prospect Street. Brant attempted to run, but was apprehended by a Walpole police officer.

Two people of the four people in the truck were taken into custody by police and transferred to Norwood Hospital. Brant was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, resisting arrest, drugged driving, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, failure to stop for police, assault with a dangerous weapon, and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license. Brant also had an active warrant, according to the Norwood Police Log. The second person, Kelly Dutcher, 53, of Norwood, was arrested on an active warrant.

Both Brant and Dutcher are scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday either in Dedham District Court or in the hospital.

The officer hit by the car suffered minor injuries and was released from the hospital Wednesday morning.

Photo Credit: Norwood Police