Fugitive Nabbed After Trying To Carjack In I-495 Traffic: Police

NORTON, MA — A fugitive wanted on drugs and firearms charges from three towns across Massachusetts and New Hampshire was arrested after a wild high-speed chase on I-495 Friday, just one day before his 32d birthday.

Thomas Holland, of Taunton, was arrested after bailing on his getaway vehicle on I-495 and trying to carjack people in traffic, State Police said. The vehicle was being driven by a Somerset woman, later identified as Brittany Pasternak, during an alleged escape attempt after police spotted the two at a Norton hotel being surveilled.

Police had the vehicle boxed in before it reached 495, but they said Brittany Pasternak backed the car into a Norton Police cruiser and took off. The ensuing chase saw Pasternak drive into two more cruisers.

Police said Pasternak drove at another cruiser before reaching 495 South, where she then sped across all lanes of traffic, getting off and back on the interstate.

Holland bailed when traffic got heavy on before Route 24, allegedly trying to get into cars that were stopped. Police arrested Holland in the middle of 495.

Holland was charged with resisting arrest and attempted carjacking, in addition to three warrants he was wanted on. He had been wanted in connection with a shooting last September in Manchester, N.H.; waving a gun at people on the Taunton Green and kicking in an apartment door to attempt to evade arrest in June, and a large amount of cocaine police found in a Danvers motel earlier this month.

Holland was arrested after the Taunton incident earlier this month. A bail clerk at the police station set bail, which Holland met, and Holland skipped his arraignment at Taunton District Court.

Pasternak was arrested Friday for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and malicious destruction of property.