‘Enough is enough’: State Police trooper dragged by vehicle in western Massachusetts, 2nd such incident in a week

State Police located and arrested a man with a history of driving under the influence they say dragged one of their own during a traffic stop gone haywire.

“Twice in a matter of about a week is twice too many. Today another member was injured when struck and dragged by a fleeing suspect during a traffic stop in Holyoke. Enough is enough,” said Patrick McNamara, the president of the State Police Association of Massachusetts, the trooper union, in a statement released Friday.

The earlier incident McNamara referenced involved Derek Lobo, 31, of Brockton, who was arrested on Sept. 14 and faces charges related to allegedly dragging a trooper during a traffic stop in Brockton earlier that day.

“This reckless and blatant disregard for the lives of our members needs to stop. We are relieved that the involved Trooper was not seriously injured and pleased that this fugitive was apprehended quickly thanks to the hard work and dedication of our Troopers and local Law Enforcement partners,” he added.

A trooper pulled over a 2007 Chevy Malibu for unspecified “motor vehicle violations” at the Holyoke rest area on Interstate 91 northbound and approached the window when the Malibu sped off, according to the MSP, dragging the unnamed trooper a short distance.

The trooper would pursue the Malibu and would later be transported by ambulance to Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton to be treated for “a lower body injury. He was released that day.

Before too long, the agency says, the Malibu went off the road and crashed and the driver, who they identify as Michael J. Williams Jr., 45, of Greenfield, allegedly fled into the nearby woods.

Multiple MSP units as well as officers with the Northampton and Easthampton police departments scoured the area, according to the MSP — with Northampton PD even launching a drone and Easthampton PD searching the Connecticut River by boat.

By 5:35 p.m. Friday, they had their man.

Williams was arrested and faces eight charges: assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, operating after license was suspended for a prior OUI offense, leaving the scene of a crash that caused personal injury, failure to stop for police, speeding, marked lanes violation and resisting arrest.

Williams was held without bail for violating the terms of his probation for an earlier matter, an MSP spokesman said, and is scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Northampton District Court.