On Thursday Sept 4 around 8:00pm, CT State Police were advised by Massachusetts State Police that a black Nissan Frontier pickup had engaged them in pursuit on I-84 westbound, but they disengaged pursuit when the pickup entered Connecticut.
Jeffrey Lauture of Stamford. Photo: CT State Police
Shortly after the vehicle entered Connecticut, Troop C began receiving 911 calls reporting erratic driving of the Frontier. Troop C took posts along I-84 westbound in Tolland, and a Trooper spotted the vehicle traveling below the posted speed limit while failing to maintain its lane between exits 69 and 68. The Trooper activated emergency lights and siren to initiate a traffic stop, but the driver accelerated to speeds exceeding 90 mph and the Trooper disengaged pursuit efforts. Another Trooper following from a distance spotted the vehicle return to normal traffic speeds, and more units were stationed further west on I-84 in Vernon.
Near exit 65 in Vernon, a Trooper positioned in the left shoulder deployed stop sticks and deflated the pickup’s tires. As the vehicle began to reduce speed, Troopers boxed it into the HOV lane. The driver collided with the concrete jersey barrier, but continued driving and tried to escape the box-in by driving into the grass center median.
Troopers surrounded the vehicle, and the driver then came to a complete stop. No injuries were reported, and the operator surrendered to Troopers without further incident.
The operator was positively identified as Jeffrey Lauture, 39, of Stamford. A search of his vehicle revealed a loaded handgun with a high-capacity magazine.
State Police dashcam video captured the deployment of stop sticks, Frontier collision with jersey barrier, box-in in HOV lane, and finally the pickup coming to a stop in the grass center median.
Lauture was charged with:
CGS 14-222*; Reckless Driving > 85 mph
CGS 14-223(b)**; Engaging Police in Pursuit (2 counts)
CGS 14-224(b)(3); Evading Responsibility- Property Damage
CGS 14-236; Failure to Maintain Proper Lane- Limited Access Highway
CGS 14-240; Failure to Drive at a Reasonable Distance Apart
CGS 14-296aa(b1st; Handheld Use of a Cellular Device While Operating a Motor Vehicle
CGS 14-36(a); Operating a Motor Vehicle Without a License
CGS 29-38; Illegal Possession of a Weapon in a Motor Vehicle
CGS 53-202w(c(1; Illegal Possession of a Large Capacity Magazine
CGS 53a-167a; Interfering with an Officer/Resisting
CGS 53a-217c; Criminal Possession of a Pistol/Revolver
CGS 53a-63; Reckless Endangerment 1st Degree
Lauture was held on a $500,000 bond and was scheduled to appear at Rockville Superior Court the following day.
Screenshot from CT State Police video.
Screenshot from CT State Police video.