A Vermont man accused of dragging a Massachusetts state trooper during a traffic stop and triggering a multistate manhunt has been arrested, authorities said.
Mason Payne, 23, of Weathersfield, Vermont, was taken into custody around 5 p.m. Wednesday at a motel in Stamford, Connecticut. Police said two firearms were recovered during a search of his vehicle and room. The arrest followed a series of incidents beginning Tuesday afternoon, when Dover, Vermont, police reported Payne was involved in an armed domestic assault. Later that evening, at about 10 p.m., a Massachusetts state trooper pulled him over in Holyoke. According to investigators, Payne accelerated during the encounter, dragging the trooper several feet before fleeing. The pursuit was quickly called off due to safety concerns, but Payne was last seen driving an older black Audi sedan.
Throughout the search, law enforcement warned that Payne should be considered armed and dangerous, noting he had allegedly threatened to harm officers. His capture in Connecticut ended a tense manhunt that spanned multiple states.
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