HOLYOKE, MA — A Springfield man wanted on drug trafficking and firearms charges was arrested Wednesday morning after crashing into an uninvolved vehicle while fleeing from police.
Holyoke Police Chief Brian Keenan said officers received information about a firearm stolen out of Springfield along with a description of the suspect and suspect vehicle.
Around 9:05 a.m., Holyoke officers located the suspect vehicle on Route 5 near the Holyoke/West Springfield line and conducted a traffic stop.
The suspect, identified as Carlos Maldonado, 37, of Springfield, struck a cruiser while continuing to flee from police.
Maldonado then drove the wrong way on Route 5 and crashed into an uninvolved vehicle near the 500 block of Riverdale Road.
Maldonado ran from the crash and Holyoke officers took him into custody a short time later.
Maldonado was placed under arrest, and the firearm was located.
Three Holyoke police officers were injured during the incident and transported via cruiser to a local hospital to evaluate their injuries.
Maldonado and the uninvolved driver were both transported to the hospital.
The extent of their injuries is unclear.
State police are investigating the crash, and Holyoke police are investigating the incident.
Maldonado had two outstanding arrest warrants at the time of the incident.
The warrants include charges of possession of a large capacity feeding device, cocaine trafficking 36-100 grams, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, carrying a firearm without a license, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, assault with a dangerous weapon, distribution of a Class A drug, possession with intent to distribute Class A and Class B drugs, trafficking fentanyl 10 or more grams, possession of ammunition without an FID card, improper storage of a firearm, cocaine trafficking 18-36 grams and conspiracy to violate drug law.
Charges from Wednesday’s incident were not immediately available.
